'How Could he Become PM After Failing Twice?': Mani Shankar Aiyar Exposes Rajiv Gandhi

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has been exposed by none other than a Congressman Mani Shankar Aiyar who has often pushed party into trouble. In a latest, Mani Shankar Aiyar exposed Rajiv Gandhi's academic failures recalling his poor performances at Cambridge University and Imperial College of London saying he failed twice during studies.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, who studied with Rajiv Gandhi at the Cambridge University, in an interview said, “When he became the Prime Minister, I thought how could a person who was an airline pilot but failed twice in studies, become a Prime Minister?”

The Congress leader further said that he studied with him at the Cambridge where he (Rajiv Gandhi) had failed. Failing at Cambridge University is very difficult because the institution tries to ensure that everyone at least passes to maintain their record. But despite that, Rajiv Gandhi failed.

After Cambridge, Rajiv Gandhi went to Imperial College in London, and failed there as well. It was then he thought how can such a person become the Prime Minister of the country.

BJP shares Mani Shankar Aiyar's interview

The Bharatiya Janata Party has shared the clip of an interview where Mani Shankar Aiyar is speaking about Rajiv Gandhi and his academic failures. Posting the video on X, formerly Twitter, BJP said that Rajiv Gandhi struggled academically, even failing at Cambridge, where passing is relatively easy. He then moved to Imperial College London but failed there as well. Many questioned how someone with his academic record could become the Prime Minister.

Despite failing academically twice, Rajiv Gandhi pursued a career in politics. He became the Prime Minister in 1984 after his mother and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.

Mani Shankar Aiyar has proven track record of putting Congress in trouble 

Mani Shankar Aiyar has pushed Congress into endless controversies, especially with his remarks during the election times.

During the build up for 2014 Lok Sabha elections when Congress was in power at the Centre, the BJP had announced Narendra Modi 's name, who was the Gujarat CM at that time, as its Prime Ministerial face. Mani Shankar Aiyar had then promised that in the 21st century, Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister, however, if he wanted to come and set up a tea stall then they can make arrangements for him.

But Mani Shankar Aiyar was proved wrong and the BJP won the elections with a thumping majority, paving way for Narendra Modi to be become the Prime Minister. The saffron party claimed victory with an absolute majority while the Congress even failed to win minimum seats required to claim the Leader of Opposition (LoP) status.

When Mani Shankar Aiyar sought Pakistan 's help in defeating Modi

Several years ago when New Delhi dismissed talks with Pakistan saying terror and talks cannot go together under the Narendra Modi government, Mani Shankar Aiyar during a conversation with a Pakistani channel was asked what could have been done to resolve it. The Congress leader then sought Pakistan's help saying that bring them to power, and defeat the BJP government.

The Congress party along with Mani Shankar Aiyar received a huge flak for this as the latter sought foreign interference in India elections.

When Aiyar referred 1962 war as Chinese Invasion? 

Though there are many other instances when Mani Shankar Aiyar had put his party in troubled waters, the most recent ones is when he stirred a controversy while referring to the 1962 Indo-China war as an "alleged Chinese invasion".

He made these remarks during a book event, 'Nehru's First Recruits: The Diplomats Who Built Independent India's Foreign Policy' written by Kallol Bhattacherjee.

Speaking at a presser, Mani Shankar Aiyar had said that in October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India.