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Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Visited 33 Countries But...': Mani Shankar Aiyar's Dig At Shashi Tharoor Over Op Sindoor Outreach
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has questioned the Modi government's international outreach after 'Operation Sindoor', targeting his party colleague Shashi Tharoor, who led a 33-nation delegation. Aiyar pointed out that none of the countries visited blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, nor did the UN or the US. He criticised India's inability to present convincing evidence linking any Pakistani agency to the incident. Aiyar further questioned the government's foreign policy, arguing that if India can maintain dialogue with China—despite past military tensions—it should also consider engaging with Pakistan instead of pursuing an isolated and unconvincing diplomatic narrative.#manishankaraiyar #shashitharoor #operationsindoor #congress #pakistan #indiaforeignpolicy #pahalgamattack #diplomacy #toi #toibharat Read More
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Tharoor and team visited 33 countries, none blamed Pakistan': Congress's Mani Shankar Aiyar takes aim at party MP; alleges govt failed to counter misinformation
Photo/Agencies NEW DELHI: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Saturday criticised the government's global outreach following ' Operation Sindoor ', particularly taking aim at his party MP Shashi Tharoor , who was part of the all-party delegation that visited multiple countries. "None of the 33 countries that Tharoor and his team visited blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack ," Aiyar said while talking to news agency IANS. He further said, "Neither the UN nor the United States has held Pakistan responsible. We are the only ones saying that Pakistan is behind it, but no one is willing to believe us. We haven't been able to present any evidence that convinces people about which Pakistani agency carried out this act." He also said, "We are engaged in dialogue with China. Don't we know that Chinese soldiers were sitting alongside the Pakistan Air Force to support the war? If we're ready to talk to China, then why not talk to Pakistan?" India launched Operation Sindoor in early May to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, Operation Sindoor showcased calibrated, tri-services action targeting terror hideouts in Pakistan.
News18
02-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Only We Are Saying It': MS Aiyar Says No Evidence On Pakistan's Role In Pahalgam, BJP Furious
Last Updated: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar claimed that India had not been able to present any evidence that Pakistan was responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar stoked a major row on Saturday by questioning whether Pakistan was indeed behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saying that there was no evidence of it, and none of the 33 countries that were visited by all-party delegations from India had blamed Pakistan for the incident. Speaking to IANS, Aiyar said, 'None of the 33 countries that (Congress leader Shashi) Tharoor and his team visited blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack. Neither the UN nor the United States have held Pakistan responsible. We are the only ones saying that Pakistan is behind it, but no one is willing to believe us." Watch: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar says, 'None of the 33 countries that Tharoor and his team visited blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack. Neither the UN nor the United States have held Pakistan responsible. We are the only ones saying that Pakistan is behind it,… — IANS (@ians_india) August 2, 2025 'We haven't been able to present any evidence that convinces people about which Pakistani agency carried out this act," he added. The BJP reacted furiously over Aiyar for aligning with Pakistani propaganda. 'Maybe the grand old Congress party does not know that the monitoring panel of the United Nations Security Council has raised concerns over the role of the TRF, which is an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in the attack," said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla. 'Maybe Congress does not know that the birth of terrorism took place in Pakistan, be it LeT or JeM, whose camps we destroyed in Operation Sindoor. It's unfortunate that Congress is defending Pakistan and demeaning our armed forces," he added. 'Congress party and its leaders continue to be top cheerleaders for Pakistan and find their true calling in peddling anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda. Indeed shameful," said another BJP spokesperson, CR Kesavan. 'India Could Not Defeat Pakistan' These controversial remarks came after Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal made headlines by claiming that India could not defeat Pakistan in Operation Sindoor, which is why the government had to stop the water. During a discussion with Gaurav Gogoi, Sanjay Raut and Sagarika Ghose, Sibal said the defence systems of India and Pakistan were at par and that India was not in a situation to continue the war. The BJP slammed Sibal's remarks, calling them 'Pakistani B team INDI alliance!" Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently told both Houses of the Parliament that India struck nine terror sites in Pakistan as part of Operation Sindoor and neutralised more than 100 terrorists. He affirmed that Pakistan's DGMO called his Indian counterpart, after which the Centre decided to pause the conflict. Shah also informed the House that all three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack were eliminated in a joint operation by the Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police near Srinagar on Monday under Operation Mahadev. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : india Pakistan Mani Shankar Aiyar Operation Sindoor pahalgam terror attack view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 02, 2025, 20:41 IST News politics 'Only We Are Saying It': MS Aiyar Says No Evidence On Pakistan's Role In Pahalgam, BJP Furious Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Aiyar's jibe at PM is desperate effort to remain relevant by courting controversy, says Vijayendra
The Opposition BJP in Karnataka has ridiculed Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the 'worst-ever Prime Minister'. In a social media post, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra said: 'Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's recent remarks at the Mysuru Literature Festival, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi the worst-ever Prime Minister is nothing more than a desperate attempt to remain relevant by courting controversy.' He said such baseless and fact-free assertions do not befit someone who has spent decades in public life. 'Rather than outrage, I feel only amused at Mr. Aiyar's futile attempt to rewrite political reality. Calling Prime Minister Modi the worst-ever PM is not just laughable, it is an insult to the democratic wisdom of crores of Indians who have, time and again, placed their faith in his leadership, inspired by his performance, vision and unwavering commitment to national development. Under his leadership, India has entered a new era of governance marked by rapid infrastructure growth, digital transformation, effective welfare delivery, and a confident, respected voice on the global stage,' he said. Mr. Aiyar's comments reflect more of his personal bitterness than any serious political analysis, Mr. Vijayendra said. 'These statements, steeped in elitist condescension and political irrelevance, only serve as a reminder of why the people of India continue to reject the Congress election after election,' he said. He maintained that: 'Mr. Modi is not just the most popular Prime Minister India has witnessed, he is also the most trusted - both within and beyond our borders.'
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Cong must rein in loose-talking leaders; put party on right path
The Congress seems rudderless—a ship adrift in the choppy waters of Indian politics. It became evident, as the top brass had to reprimand its senior leaders to not make controversial or insensitive remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack that left dozens murdered and the entire nation shocked and angry. For instance, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that there's no need for war. Another senior Congress leader and former Union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said that 'the unresolved questions of the Partition reflected in the terrible tragedy... in Pahalgam on April 22.' Senior party leader from Kashmiri Saifuddin Soz made an even more offensive remark, urging us to accept Pakistan's 'word' that 'it was not involved in Pahalgam.' Naivety soared to new heights. All this at a time when people all over the country cutting across communal and caste lines are seething with anger over the barbarity of jihadists at Pahalgam! In a damage control exercise, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh tweeted: 'Some Congress leaders have been speaking to the media. They speak for themselves and do not reflect the Congress' views.' But the damage has already been done. The GOP's inability to present a cohesive front on the Pahalgam tragedy has exposed disarray and divisions within its ranks. This gave the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party another handle to beat the grand old party with. Senior BJP MP and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'Do Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have no control over their party? Or did both of them make pro forma comments while letting others speak as they wished? When the world is with India after the terror strike, be it the US, France, or Saudi Arabia, these leaders are making such shameless and irresponsible remarks.' This latest episode underscores a critical challenge for the Congress: the urgent need for disciplined internal communication and a coherent, principled stand on matters of national security. In a country where terrorism has repeatedly caused pain and suffering, such issues cannot be treated lightly or be left open to the whims of individual leaders. National security must transcend political affiliations and be addressed with seriousness, consistency, and unity. The Congress leadership must realize that it cannot afford to let its leaders indulge in loose talk, especially on issues as critical and sensitive as national security. Every word spoken by a senior party leader carries weight, not only in domestic discourse but also in the international arena. Irresponsible or poorly timed statements can undermine the nation's unity, embolden adversaries, and weaken India's diplomatic stance. The stakes are too high for casual remarks or personal interpretations of grave national threats like terrorism. However, the control of rhetoric and consistency in response can only be achieved if the Congress, as a party, has clarity over its fundamental approach to national security. This clarity, in turn, must be grounded in a coherent and contemporary political philosophy—one that reconciles the Congress's legacy of non-alignment and peaceful diplomacy with the harsh realities of modern-day geopolitics and asymmetric warfare. A mature political ideology must be able to distinguish between advocating peace and appearing weak or ambivalent on matters of sovereignty and security. What the party needs is direction, discipline, and a renewed sense of responsibility—before it's too late.
