Congress Veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar Invokes BR Ambedkar in Fiery Retort After Party Distances Itself
In a dramatic escalation of internal tensions, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday invoked the legacy of Dr. BR Ambedkar and launched a scathing attack on the party's current leadership. This came after the Indian National Congress officially distanced itself from Aiyar's recent praise for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, just ahead of crucial state assembly elections.
Aiyar's Sharp Jibe at Rahul Gandhi and Congress Dissent
Speaking exclusively to news agency ANI, Aiyar delivered a pointed critique, stating emphatically, "I am a Gandhian, I am a Nehruvian, I am a Rajivian, but I am not a Rahulian." He elaborated by referencing Dr. Ambedkar's biography "A Part Apart", suggesting his position within the party was one of principled separation. "Mr. Rahul Gandhi has forgotten that I am a member of the party, and therefore I am a part but apart," Aiyar declared, framing his dissent within a historical context of Congress rebels.
Blistering Attack on Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera
The former Union minister reserved his harshest criticism for Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera, who had earlier stated that Aiyar had "no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years" and spoke only in a personal capacity. Aiyar responded with remarkable vitriol, stating he had "absolutely no respect and complete contempt" for Khera.
"How stupid can a party be than to make Pawan Khera the spokesman?" Aiyar questioned. He dismissed Khera as a "puppet" and a "parrot" who merely repeats the talking points provided by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh. "He is not a spokesman, he is a parrot," Aiyar asserted, challenging Khera's authority and credibility.
Praise for Kerala's Left Government and Critique of Congress Discipline
Aiyar contrasted the Congress's handling of internal dissent with the discipline he observed in Kerala's Left government. "At least in Pinarayi's government there is discipline. They have no Mani Shankar Aiyars," he remarked, highlighting his own role as a critic within his party. He drew parallels to historical figures like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose, who were rebels against Mahatma Gandhi yet were embraced by the party leadership.
"If Subhas Bose had survived the aircrash on 17th August 1945, I am certain he would have been the President of India. So, that is how they dealt with dissidence. How does the present Congress deal with it?" Aiyar asked, implying a decline in the party's tolerance for internal debate.
The Controversial Kerala Remarks That Sparked the Row
The entire controversy stems from Aiyar's comments at an international seminar titled "Vision 2031: Development and Democracy" on Sunday. Addressing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directly, Aiyar had stated, "I must fall at your feet, Chief Minister Vijayan, and request you to pick up the baton that the Congress has dropped." He expressed confidence in the return of the Left government and praised Kerala's panchayati raj system, while regretting the absence of his own party colleagues at the event.
Congress Leadership's Firm Rejection and Political Rebuttal
The Congress leadership moved swiftly to contain the fallout. Beyond Pawan Khera's statement on X, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh issued a firm rebuttal, asserting that the United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance would return to power in Kerala. "Let there be no doubt. The people of Kerala will bring the UDF back for more responsible and responsive governance," Ramesh stated, also alleging a covert partnership between the LDF and the BJP.
Aiyar also took aim at Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, sarcastically questioning the party's condition for elevating him. "Can you imagine what is the condition of a party which raises a rowdy like KC Venugopal to the level of Sardar Patel, to Rahul Gandhi?" he asked, further widening his critique of the party's current hierarchy.
This public airing of grievances exposes deep fissures within the Congress party as it prepares for electoral battles, with Aiyar positioning himself as a dissenting voice championing a bygone era of ideological debate and tolerance within the grand old party.
