“He is not an official member of party…”: Congress leader Udit Raj on Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “Pro Pakistan” comment

New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): Distancing the Congress party from Mani Shankar Aiyar’s pro Pakistan comments, Congress candidate from North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Udit Raj said that Shankar does not hold the official position in the party and that his remarks are personal.
In an April 15 interview with ‘Chill Pill’, Aiyar said that Pakistan is a respected nation that also possesses an atom bomb so India must enter into a dialogue with them.
The comments made by the Congress leader received huge criticism from the BJP.
Reacting to Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments, Congress leader Udit Raj said, “Mani Shankar Aiyar doesn’t hold an official position. So, whatever he says is his personal opinion. Congress has no such stand. Congress is not speaking anything on it”.
Congress leader and Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot advised INDIA alliance members to take precautions while giving statements during elections in the country.

On Mani Shankar’s statement, Gehlot said, “I haven’t heard any such comment. I would just say that the INDIA bloc members should take extra precaution while giving any statement during the elections. Because Modi Ji is such a big player, that he makes mountain out of a mole”.
Lashing out at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s pro Pakistan comments, Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused the Congress of speaking the language of Pakistan and terrorists.
“Rahul Gandhi, Congress, and Mani Shankar Aiyar are speaking the language of Pakistan…I would like to say that Congress should leave this dual policy, India is so powerful that if it casts an eye over us, Pakistan will no longer be there. He is speaking the language of Farooq Abdullah, of Pakistan. Congress speaks the language of Pakistan, of terrorists,” Giriraj Singh said while speaking to ANI.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Aiyar, who is close to the Congress’ “first family” is displaying the muscle and strength of Pakistan on behalf of the Congress party.

“Congress’ ‘Pakistan prem’ doesn’t seem to stop. Mani Shankar Aiyar who is close to the ‘first family’ is displaying the muscle and strength of Pakistan on behalf of Congress party. He says that Pakistan should be respected and talks should be held with them – the same Pakistan that keeps sending terrorists to our country…Now, when incidents like Pulwama take place, a befitting reply is given…Today, Pakistan keeps pleading on international platforms to spare them…Look at the list of Congress – how they first received support from Pakistan, a clean chit was given to Kasab in 26/11, the language of Pakistan was spoken by uttering the words ‘Indian Administered Kashmir’…now ‘Congress ka haath’ is being seen with ‘Pakistan ke saath’. This is another example of the same,” Poonawalla said in a self-made video.
In an interview with Chill Pill Mani Shankar Aiyar on April 15 said, “They are also a sovereign country (Pakistan). They are a respected nation. You can talk tough with them (Pakistan). But start the dialogue. You are walking with a gun which yielded you nothing. Tensions are escalating. And if a mad person comes there, what will happen to the nation? They have an atom bomb. We also possess the atomic bomb. But if a mad person detonates our bomb at Lahore station, so within eight seconds, eight moments, its radioactivity will reach Amritsar.

He added: “So you should prevent the use of atomic bombs. But, if you start a dialogue with them (Pakistan) and encourage them (by considering them as), then they should start thinking about their atomic bomb. But if you snub them, then a mad person will come and detonate the bomb. Then what will happen?”