'Respect Pakistan...it has Atom Bomb': Mani Shankar Aiyar lands Congress in soup again, BJP reacts

livemint.com:

Sam Pitroda sparked controversy with his 'African' remark, party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Friday courted a fresh stir by saying, “Pakistan is a respected nation that also possesses an atom bomb." The clip of Aiyar's remark in an interview with Chill Pill went viral on social media. “They are also a sovereign country (Pakistan). They are a respected nation.

You can talk tough with them (Pakistan). But start the dialogue. You are walking with a gun, which yielded you nothing.

Tensions are escalating. And if a mad person comes there, what will happen to the nation? They have an atom bomb. We also possess the atomic bomb.

But if a mad person detonates our bomb at Lahore station, so within eight seconds, eight moments, its radioactivity will reach Amritsar," reported ANI, quoting Aiyar. Also Read: ‘Two-thirds of Indians ready to come towards Pakistanis,’ says Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar With his remarks on Pakistan, Aiyar, who is no stranger to controversies, has given Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fresh ammunition to attack Congress. The Congress party has distanced itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks, saying he doesn't hold any official position and what he says are his personal comments.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders have launched a scathing attack, saying Congress' 'Pakistan prem' doesn't seem to stop. Also Read: Congress' Mani Shankar Aiyar asked to vacate Delhi house after daughter's post on Ram Mandir BJP's national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, said that Mani Shankar Aiyar, who is close to the 'first family', is displaying the muscle and strength of Pakistan on behalf of the Congress party. “He (Aiyar) says that Pakistan should be respected and talks should be held with them - the same Pakistan that keeps