New Delhi: In a fiery and no-holds-barred conversation with Editor Sushil Vakil, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar launched a blistering attack not only on Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, triggering fresh controversy in the national political arena.
During the sharp exchange, Aiyar questioned the quality of political discourse in Parliament and defended the conduct of the current Leader of Opposition by turning the tables on the Prime Minister. “Have you ever seen a prime minister behaving like this bloody Modi does?” he shot back when asked whether he had witnessed a Leader of Opposition behaving in such a manner during his long parliamentary career. In a striking remark, Aiyar added, “Every prime minister gets the LoP he deserves,” implying that the tone of opposition politics reflects the style set by the government.
However, Aiyar did not spare his own party’s leadership either. In a candid assessment, he criticised Rahul Gandhi for failing to mount a strong and policy-driven opposition against the government. According to Aiyar, the repeated use of slogans such as “suit-boot” and “chowkidar chor hai” fell short of presenting a substantive critique of government policies. He suggested that the opposition must move beyond rhetoric and engage the ruling dispensation with sharper arguments and strategic positioning.
The most controversial moment came when Aiyar accused Prime Minister Modi of using what he described as “gangster language” in Parliament. Referring to past remarks allegedly made against him, Aiyar claimed Modi had accused him of conspiring with Pakistan. In a heated reaction, Aiyar used strong words against the Prime Minister, further intensifying the political temperature. His remarks are likely to invite sharp responses from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which has frequently targeted Aiyar for provocative statements in the past.
The interview has once again thrust Aiyar into the centre of controversy, reviving debates over political decorum, the tone of parliamentary discourse, and the effectiveness of the opposition. With both the government and the opposition under scrutiny, the explosive exchange is expected to dominate headlines and fuel political sparring in the days ahead.
