'Brazen Attempt at Revisionism': BJP Slams Mani Shankar For Calling 1962 China Invasion 'Alleged'

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on senior Congress leader Mani Shankar for referring to "China's invasion of India in October 1962" as "alleged," calling it "a brazen attempt at revisionism."

Shankar made these remarks during the launch of a book titled "Nehru's First Recruits" at the FCC.

Following this, BJP's IT Head Amit Malviya took to his social media handle X, stating, "Mani Shankar Aiyar, speaking at the FCC, during the launch of a book called Nehru’s First Recruits, refers to the Chinese invasion in 1962 as ‘alleged’. This is a brazen attempt at revisionism."

Further in his post, the BJP leader reiterated various compromises and support shown by the Congress party towards China.

Recalling former Prime Minister Nehru's decision to forgo India's permanent seat at the UNSC in favour of China, Malviya questioned the opposition party's support for China.

Furthermore, targeting other Gandhi family members, Malviya said that Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funds from the Chinese Embassy and published reports recommending market access for Chinese companies, based on them. Meanwhile,  Sonia Gandhi’s UPA opened up the Indian market for Chinese goods, hurting MSMEs.

"Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funds from the Chinese Embassy and published reports recommending market access for Chinese companies, based on which Sonia Gandhi’s UPA opened up the Indian market for Chinese goods, hurting MSMEs. Now Congress leader Aiyar wants to whitewash the Chinese invasion, post which the Chinese have been in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km of Indian territory," the post read.

"What explains Congress’s love for the Chinese?" Malviya asked.

'Allowances Must be Made For His Age': Congress Reacts to Mani Shankar's Remark

After receiving heavy criticism from people over Mani Shankar's remark, Congress' General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh in a post on X said that the party "distances itself" from Shankar's original phraseology.

He further argued that Mani had apologised unreservedly for mistakenly using the term "alleged invasion, " and such allowances can be made seeing his age.

"Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has subequently apologised unreservedly for using the term "alleged invasion" mistakenkly.  Allowances must be made for his age. The INC distances itself from his original phraseology."

In the post further, Jairam asserted that China's 1962 invasion was for "REAL."

"The Chinese invasion of India that began on October 20 1962 was for REAL. So too were the Chinese incursions in Ladakh in early May 2020 in which 20 of our soldiers were martyred and the status quo disturbed," the post read.