New Delhi: In a recent podcast, veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has reignited a political firestorm with his candid remarks about former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s academic record. Speaking from New Delhi, Aiyar expressed surprise at Gandhi’s ascension to the prime ministerial role, given his struggles at Cambridge University and Imperial College London. This has provided the BJP with fresh ammunition to attack the Congress, while Congress leaders have distanced themselves from Aiyar’s comments.
Aiyar, who studied alongside Rajiv Gandhi at Cambridge, noted that failing at the prestigious university is rare due to its efforts to ensure students pass. He further mentioned that Gandhi’s subsequent failure at Imperial College left him questioning how someone with such an academic record could become Prime Minister. However, Aiyar also praised Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister, highlighting his achievements.
The BJP IT cell head, Amit Malviya, shared a clip of Aiyar’s remarks, emphasizing Gandhi’s academic struggles and questioning his competency to lead the country. In response, Congress leaders like Harish Rawat and Tariq Anwar defended Gandhi’s legacy, pointing out that his political achievements far outweighed his academic setbacks. Rawat described Aiyar as a “frustrated individual,” while Anwar noted that Gandhi’s political successes, including the introduction of Panchayati Raj and IT reforms, were unparalleled.
Aiyar’s comments have once again placed him at odds with his party, with some labeling him as “irrelevant” and even a “sleeper cell of BJP.” Despite this, his remarks continue to stir debate about the intersection of academic achievement and political leadership.
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