The resurfacing of an old video of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar in which he talks of treating Pakistan with respect triggered a political row on Friday, with the BJP accusing the Congress of becoming an apologist for Pakistan.
The Congress promptly dissociated itself from Mr. Aiyar’s comment but countered the BJP with a video interview of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar advising against picking up a fight with China.
Mr. Aiyar said the video was old and dug up now as the BJP’s election campaign is faltering. “It is obvious from the sweater I am wearing that my comments to ‘Chill Pill’ were made in the winter several months ago. They have been dredged up now as the BJP’s election campaign falters. I refuse to play their game,” the Congress leader said in a statement.
