Why Are BJP Leaders Targeting Aiyar Over His Partition Comments?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Political tensions are heightened with Aiyar's controversial remarks.
- The BJP is using this opportunity to challenge the Congress's narrative on historical accountability.
- The Pahalgam attack underscores ongoing security concerns in India.
- Discussions around Partition reveal lingering historical grievances.
- Unity against terrorism remains a call to action for all political factions.
New Delhi, April 27 (NationPress) Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar faced strong criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Sunday for his attempt to connect the Pahalgam terror attack to Partition. They condemned him for seemingly protecting Pakistan from accountability for the terrorist act.
Lok Sabha MP Praveen Khandelwal stated in an interview with IANS that Aiyar is a habitual offender.
"His statements essentially point fingers at his own Congress party," he remarked.
"Everyone is aware that Partition was the result of the political aspirations of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In a sense, Aiyar’s comments have put the Congress party on trial," he added.
Khandelwal expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would act decisively regarding the Pahalgam incident.
BJP leader Nalin Kohli also criticized Aiyar for his comments about Partition.
"When he refers to Partition as an unresolved issue, he is essentially blaming Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru," Kohli stated.
He noted that while Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel unified the 500 princely states to form India's identity, Pandit Nehru made decisions that left the situation in Jammu and Kashmir unresolved.
"Aiyar's remarks are serious and carry an important lesson for the Congress," Kohli remarked to IANS.
BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana stated that the Congress should apologize to the nation for its role in Partition and suggested Aiyar undergo a mental evaluation.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi's commitment to respond to the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, he asserted that India is a responsible nation capable of teaching a lesson to those who attack innocent civilians.
Khatana expressed hope that through collective efforts, the nation would recover from the economic impact of the Pahalgam attack on Jammu and Kashmir.
Aiyar, during an event in Delhi, remarked, "Partition occurred, and we continue to bear its consequences."
He pondered whether the Pahalgam terror incident reflected the unresolved issues stemming from India's division in 1947.
The BJP quickly capitalized on Aiyar's remarks, framing them as another instance of the Congress party’s reluctance to hold Pakistan accountable for its role in terrorism.