Mani Shankar Aiyar calls Rajiv Gandhi "two-time failure," triggers controversy
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has sparked controversy by calling former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi a "two-time failure" in academics, referring to his time at Cambridge University and Imperial College London.
In a video shared by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, Aiyar is heard expressing surprise at Rajiv Gandhi’s rise to power. "I was very surprised when he became Prime Minister. I thought, he is an airline pilot who failed at Cambridge. It is very difficult to fail at Cambridge because the university ensures that everyone at least passes to maintain its reputation. But Rajiv Gandhi failed. Then he went to Imperial College and failed there too. So I wondered, how could such a person become Prime Minister?" he said.
His remarks have drawn criticism from within the Congress, with some party members accusing him of damaging the party's image. Congress MP Tariq Anwar downplayed the comments, stating that academic failures do not define political success. "Failing is not a big deal; even the best people fail sometimes. But Rajiv Gandhi did not fail in politics. He introduced Panchayati Raj, brought the IT revolution, improved communication, and promoted scientific progress. Very few Prime Ministers have achieved so much in just five years," he said.
Congress national spokesperson Charan Singh Sapra accused Aiyar of aligning with the BJP’s political narrative. "For years, his remarks have only harmed Congress. His statements suggest he is working as a tool for the BJP to spread propaganda," Sapra alleged.
Aiyar, who was once a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi, has made controversial remarks in the past that have put him at odds with the party leadership. He has previously credited the Gandhi family for both "making and ending" his political career.
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Cambodian officials report 12 new deaths in fighting with Thailand, bringing total death toll to 32
Surin (Thailand), Jul 26 (AP): Cambodian officials on Saturday reported 12 new deaths in its fighting with Thailand, bringing death toll on both sides to 32.
Gen. Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, told reporters Saturday that seven more civilians and five soldiers have died from two days of fighting. It earlier reported one fatality — a man who was killed when the pagoda he was hiding in got hit by Thai rockets.
Thailand has said that six of its soldiers and 13 civilians were killed, including children, while 29 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded.
