New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that Pakistan has atom bombs and wondered ‘what happens if a 'madman' decided to launch bombs’ on India.
Aiyar sparked criticism from the BJP after he said that India should engage in dialogue with Pakistan in order to avoid paying a heavy price, according to NDTV.
"You should talk to them. But instead, we are flexing our military might. And this is just increasing the tensions. And they have atom bombs. What happens if a 'madman' decided to launch bombs (at India)," he reportedly said.
He further said that India too have atom bombs, adding ‘but if a 'madman' decides to drop a bomb on Lahore, it won't take 8 seconds for the radiation to reach Amritsar.’
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed Aiyar’s remarks as the reflection of the Congress’s ‘ideology’ for the country.
Sharing the video on X, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar said: ‘Rahul's Cong "idealogy" is fully visible in these elections. Support to and from Pakistan including offrng to give up Siachen. Dividing people, Lies, Abuse and fake guarantees to mislead poor and vulnerable (sic).’
BJP leader Ravi Kishan came down heavily on the Congress leader saying: ‘At this time Pakistan is collecting foodgrains for itself. They are facing a food crisis...Mani Shankar Aiyar should get himself treated somewhere. This is not the India of Congress. Now, India is very powerful. This is the India of PM Modi.’
Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remarks follows the BJP leaders including PM Modi’s warning that Indian forces would enter Pakistan and kill terrorists escaping from India.
PM Modi said at an election rally in Maharashtra's Latur that ‘During the Congress regime, the news headlines were about India handing over another dossier to Pakistan about terror activities. It used to be big news. Today, India doesn't send dossiers. Aaj Bharat ghar mein ghus ke marta hai (Today, India eliminates terrorists on their home turf).’