Motormouth Congress veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again opened his mouth, and as always, he has uttered nonsense. This time, Aiyar was telling how India should deal with Pakistan, while everyone else is left wondering whether the past has taught us anything at all.
Speaking at the Halla Bol Conclave, Aiyar argued that India has the courage to conduct surgical strikes against Pakistan but apparently does not have the courage to sit across the table and talk. He even suggested placing a table at the Attari-Wagah border so that both sides could negotiate without either delegation technically crossing the border. Aiyar doesn’t understand that it is not India’s lack of courage that is stopping such talks, but Pakistan’s continuous support for terrorism.
And a table at Wagah. What could possibly go wrong? Perhaps India and Pakistan could settle decades of disputes over a cup of tea, although, given Aiyar’s political history, even the tea might become controversial. After all, he once famously said that a ‘chai wala’ can’t become Indian Prime Minister.
Aiyar’s argument is that dialogue should continue even when major disagreements remain unresolved. That is a perfectly legitimate position in foreign policy. Countries do talk to adversaries, and diplomacy is often necessary precisely when relations are difficult.
But coming from Aiyar, the remarks inevitably invite a little political déjà vu.
This is, after all, the same politician whose 2014 comment about Narendra Modi’s background as a tea seller became one of the most famous political controversies of that election. Aiyar said Modi could distribute tea at the Congress event but would never become Prime Minister. Modi eventually did become Prime Minister, 3 times, and the “chaiwala” insult became a powerful political symbol in his campaign.
Aiyar has subsequently denied that he called Modi a “chaiwala,” including in his own later accounts of the controversy.
Then came perhaps an even more extraordinary episode in 2015. Appearing on Pakistani television, Aiyar was asked how India-Pakistan relations could move forward. His answer was, “Hamein le aaiye, inhein hataiye” (bring us in, remove them). In other words, remove Modi and bring the Congress back.
So now, years later, Aiyar is asking India to demonstrate the courage to talk to Pakistan. The irony practically writes itself.
India’s position on Pakistan is not simply a question of whether politicians are brave enough to sit at a table. It involves terrorism and the terror experiences of several decades since Independence.
Suggesting that India lacks “courage” because it refuses to talk is an argument that deserves scrutiny. Especially when the person making it has previously gone on Pakistani television to suggest that the Indian Prime Minister himself should be removed.
Perhaps before putting a table at Wagah, Aiyar should first explain where, exactly, he plans to put the irony.
