<p>Congress leader and former minister Mani Shankar Aiyar triggered a fresh controversy by saying that Pakistanis are the "biggest asset of India". Lauding the South Asian nation, the former diplomat claimed that he had never been to any country where he had been welcomed with such open arms as in Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Pakistanis, from my experience, have been the people who react perhaps overreact to the other side. If we are friendly, they are over-friendly and if we are hostile, they get over hostile," Aiyar was quoted as saying in Lahore by the Dawn newspaper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Aiyar made the remarks during a session titled "Hijr Ki Rakh, Visaal Kay Phool, Indo-Pak Affairs", on the second day of the Faiz Festival at Alhamra in Lahore on Saturday (Feb 11).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rashtriya-lok-dal-joins-nda-ahead-of-general-election-in-a-major-setback-to-india-bloc-689565">Rashtriya Lok Dal joins NDA ahead of general election in a major setback to I.N.D.I.A bloc</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The former ambassador recalled his time as consul general in Karachi, stating that he and his wife were well-treated. He has also written about several incidents in his book&nbsp;"Memoirs of a Maverick". The Pakistani media outlet said in its report that his book shows Pakistan as a completely different country from what the Indians imagine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, Aiyar said that goodwill was needed but instead of goodwill, there had been something opposite during the last 10 years since the formation of the first Narendra Modi government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted, he said, "All I ask the people (of Pakistan) is to remember that (PM) Modi has never received more than one-third of the votes but our system is such that if has one-third of the votes, he has two-thirds in the seats. So two-thirds of Indians are ready to come towards you (Pakistanis)."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress leader emphasised the importance of opening communication channels between the two countries, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "biggest mistake" of not engaging in talks with Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Indian PM Modi launches UPI services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-former-maharashtra-cm-ashok-chavan-quits-congress-reports-suggest-may-join-bjp-party-reacts-689510">Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan quits Congress, party reacts; reports suggest may join BJP</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2><strong>Reaction to Aiyar's remarks&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, who is BJP State Vice President in Andhra Pradesh, said: "Elections are coming and so are the rhetorical statements of @INCIndia leaders!"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Referring to the "biggest asset" comment, Reddy said, "Dear Mani Shankar ji, they may or may not be India's asset, but Congress is surely the biggest asset of #Pakistan."&nbsp;</p>

<p>BJP leader Uday Garudachar said, "Everybody across the world is fine with you, as long as you're fine. If we fool around, they will also fool around. It is his (Mani Shankar Aiyar's) personal view. We would love for Pakistan to behave with us and lead a nice life along with us so that there's harmony amongst both countries."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Congress leader and former minister Mani Shankar Aiyar triggered a fresh controversy by saying that Pakistanis are the "biggest asset of India". Lauding the South Asian nation, the former diplomat claimed that he had never been to any country where he had been welcomed with such open arms as in Pakistan.

Congress leader and former minister Mani Shankar Aiyar triggered a fresh controversy by saying that Pakistanis are the "biggest asset of India". Lauding the South Asian nation, the former diplomat claimed that he had never been to any country where he had been welcomed with such open arms as in Pakistan. "The Pakistanis, from my experience, have been the people who react perhaps overreact to the other side. If we are friendly, they are over-friendly and if we are hostile, they get over hostile," Aiyar was quoted as saying in Lahore by the Dawn newspaper. Aiyar made the remarks during a session titled "Hijr Ki Rakh, Visaal Kay Phool, Indo-Pak Affairs", on the second day of the Faiz Festival at Alhamra in Lahore on Saturday (Feb 11). Also read: Rashtriya Lok Dal joins NDA ahead of general election in a major setback to I.N.D.I.A bloc The former ambassador recalled his time as consul general in Karachi, stating that he and his wife were well-treated. He has also written about several incidents in his book "Memoirs of a Maverick". The Pakistani media outlet said in its report that his book shows Pakistan as a completely different country from what the Indians imagine. According to the report, Aiyar said that goodwill was needed but instead of goodwill, there had been something opposite during the last 10 years since the formation of the first Narendra Modi government. As quoted, he said, "All I ask the people (of Pakistan) is to remember that (PM) Modi has never received more than one-third of the votes but our system is such that if has one-third of the votes, he has two-thirds in the seats. So two-thirds of Indians are ready to come towards you (Pakistanis)." The Congress leader emphasised the importance of opening communication channels between the two countries, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "biggest mistake" of not engaging in talks with Pakistan. Watch: Indian PM Modi launches UPI services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius × Also read: Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan quits Congress, party reacts; reports suggest may join BJP Reaction to Aiyar's remarks Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, who is BJP State Vice President in Andhra Pradesh, said: "Elections are coming and so are the rhetorical statements of @INCIndia leaders!" Referring to the "biggest asset" comment, Reddy said, "Dear Mani Shankar ji, they may or may not be India's asset, but Congress is surely the biggest asset of #Pakistan." BJP leader Uday Garudachar said, "Everybody across the world is fine with you, as long as you're fine. If we fool around, they will also fool around. It is his (Mani Shankar Aiyar's) personal view. We would love for Pakistan to behave with us and lead a nice life along with us so that there's harmony amongst both countries." (With inputs from agencies)

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar calls Pakistanis ‘biggest asset’ of India

<p>Former Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's recent comments in Pakistan are expected to spark off yet another round of heated discussion.</p>

<p>While addressing an event in Lahore, Aiyar — he was recently suspended from the Congress — said the first proponent of the two-nation theory was VD Savarkar, the ideological guru of India's Hindu right. He further said that the current situation in India is an "abhorrent one".</p>

<p>"Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which does not exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was the ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India," Aiyar said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also took a dig at the people protesting against the portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in&nbsp;Aligarh Muslim University.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I referred to Jinnah as the Quaid e Azam and the hysterical Indian TV anchors are demanding to know how an Indian can go to Pakistan and say this. I know many Pakistanis who called MK Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, does that make them unpatriotic Pakistanis?" Aiyar said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aiyar said&nbsp;that about 70 per cent of Indians did not vote for Modi in the 2014 elections.</p>

<p>"70 per cent of Indians didn't vote for Mr Modi in last elections but lost because they were completely factionated among themselves, it is my hope that a great number of this 70 per cent will come together to put an end to the aberration we've been suffering in our country," Aiyar said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The veteran leader is no stranger to controversy. Aiyar recently said he receives more hatred in India than love in Pakistan.</p>

<p>Aiyar was suspended from the Congress party last year before the Gujarat elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had referred to PM Modi as "neech".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He later said he had meant "low thinking" but Modi took Aiyar's comments to the Gujarat electorate, saying Aiyar had called him "low caste".&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which doesn't exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India: MA Aiyar in Lahore <a href="https://t.co/2C0ovEPRBI">pic.twitter.com/2C0ovEPRBI</a></p>
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The former Congress leader also referred to the current situation in India as an 'abhorrent one'

Former Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's recent comments in Pakistan are expected to spark off yet another round of heated discussion. While addressing an event in Lahore, Aiyar — he was recently suspended from the Congress — said the first proponent of the two-nation theory was VD Savarkar, the ideological guru of India's Hindu right. He further said that the current situation in India is an "abhorrent one". "Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which does not exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was the ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India," Aiyar said. He also took a dig at the people protesting against the portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Aligarh Muslim University. "I referred to Jinnah as the Quaid e Azam and the hysterical Indian TV anchors are demanding to know how an Indian can go to Pakistan and say this. I know many Pakistanis who called MK Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, does that make them unpatriotic Pakistanis?" Aiyar said. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Aiyar said that about 70 per cent of Indians did not vote for Modi in the 2014 elections. "70 per cent of Indians didn't vote for Mr Modi in last elections but lost because they were completely factionated among themselves, it is my hope that a great number of this 70 per cent will come together to put an end to the aberration we've been suffering in our country," Aiyar said. The veteran leader is no stranger to controversy. Aiyar recently said he receives more hatred in India than love in Pakistan. Aiyar was suspended from the Congress party last year before the Gujarat elections. He had referred to PM Modi as "neech". He later said he had meant "low thinking" but Modi took Aiyar's comments to the Gujarat electorate, saying Aiyar had called him "low caste". Present situation in India is an aberration, In 1923 a man called VD Savarkar invented a word which doesn't exist in any religious text, 'Hindutva'. So first proponent of the two nation theory was ideological guru of those who are currently in power in India: MA Aiyar in Lahore pic.twitter.com/2C0ovEPRBI — ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2018 ×

First proponent of two-nation theory was Savarkar: Mani Shankar Aiyar in Pakistan

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Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar calls Pakistanis ‘biggest asset’ of India

First proponent of two-nation theory was Savarkar: Mani Shankar Aiyar in Pakistan