In the latest faux pas, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar while narrating an anecdote referred to the 1962 India-China war as “alleged Chinese invasion”. 

“..In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India,” Mani Shankar Aiyar was heard saying at an event in Delhi.

Mr Aiyar later “unreservedly apologised” for having “mistakenly” used the word “alleged” before ‘Chinese invasion’.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the BJP called it a “brazen attempt at revisionism.”

“Nehru gave up India’s claim on permanent seat at the UNSC in favour of the Chinese, Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funds from the Chinese Embassy and published reports recommending market access for Chinese companies, based on them, Sonia Gandhi’s UPA opened up Indian market for Chinese goods, hurting MSMEs and 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,” BJP’s Amit Malviya said on X.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, speaking at the FCC, during launch of a book called Nehru’s First Recruits, refers to Chinese invasion in 1962 as ‘alleged’. This is a brazen attempt at revisionism.

Nehru gave up India’s claim on permanent seat at the UNSC in favour of the Chinese, Rahul… pic.twitter.com/Z7T0tUgJiD

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) May 28, 2024

As the goof-up triggered a huge row, the Congress disassociated itself with the veteran leader’s statement.

“Mani Shankar Aiyar has subsequently apologised unreservedly for using the term “alleged invasion” mistakenly. Allowances must be made for his age. The INC distances itself from his original phraseology. 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,” party leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X – earlier known as Twitter.

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.

The Chinese invasion of India that began on October 20 1962 was for… https://t.co/74oXfL1Ur2

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 28, 2024

Mani Shankar Aiyar is not new to controversy. A video of his old interview went viral earlier this month where he said that India should engage in dialogue with Pakistan or the country could end up paying a heavy price.

“India should give respect to Pakistan as it has an atom bomb! If we don’t give them respect, they’ll think of using an atom bomb against India,” Mr Aiyar had said.

The Congress leader’s remarks had gone viral days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other top BJP leaders warned that Indian forces would enter Pakistan to kill any terrorist who escapes.

May 19, when a 17-year-old son of a prominent Pune realtor rammed his Porsche into two techies in their 20s – killing them on the spot – was not the first time he was illegally driving a car.

A video has emerged from just a day before the horrific tragedy, showing the teenager emerging from the driver’s side of a car while attending a college event. The video shows the boy getting out off the car, accompanied by a male friend who seemed to be in the passenger seat, as three girls appear to wait for them in the foreground.

The girls are joined by three other boys and the teenager and his friend walk up to them and greet them before entering the building.

Police sources have confirmed that the teenager was driving a car on the day of the college event. Just hours later, he went partying – in a Rs 2.5-crore Porsche – with his friends to celebrate his Class 12 results (in Maharashtra Class 11 and 12 students attend what is called a junior college). They went to two pubs and drank illegally, and he racked up a bill of Rs 48,000 at one of them.

The teen then got into the Porsche with two of his friends and crashed into the scooter in Pune’s Kalyani Nagar at a speed of at least 150 kmph, killing two 24-year-old IT professionals on the spot. Aneesh Awadhiya, who was riding the bike was sent flying and hit a parked car, while Ashwini Koshta – who was riding pillion – was flung 20 feet into the air.

On Tuesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the law is equal for all and no one would be spared.

Answering a question on the alleged preferential treatment given to the 17-year-old son of a prominent Pune builder, Mr Shinde said in Hindi, “I have been in touch with the Pune police commissioner since day one. I have said right from the beginning that, irrespective of how influential the person is, there should be no discrimination. No matter how rich or poor a person is, the law is equal for all and no one will be spared. I have ordered strict action.”

“The two people who have died are also someone’s children. Strict action will be taken against all guilty people in this case. Their background will also be checked. I have personally told the police commissioner to spare no one, whether it is a doctor or anyone else,” the chief minister said.

Mr Shinde was referring to the arrest of Dr Ajay Tawade and Dr Hari Harnor of Sasoon Hospital by the Pune Crime Branch for allegedly replacing the teenager’s blood samples with those of a doctor to ensure that no alcohol was detected in them. A peon, Atul Ghatkamble, who acted as the middleman and allegedly collected the ₹ 3 lakh bribe meant for the two doctors from the realtor’s family, was also arrested.

The Shiv Sena leader’s remarks had come after the Congress’s Maharashtra unit President, Nana Patole, had alleged that the son of an MLA was also involved in the accident and the legislator had taken part in the cover-up.

While the Congress leader did not name the legislator, there have been reports of Sunil Tingre – the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA from Vadgaonsheri – having visited the Yerwada police station, where the teenager was taken after the accident, in the early hours of May 19.

The boy will be in a remand home till June 5. His father and grandfather are in police custody.

Imam allegedly made speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019 and at the Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2019 where he threatened to cut off Assam and the rest of the North East from the country.