New Delhi, Nov 17 (PTI): Former Union minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar today stoked a fresh controversy by reportedly saying, during a panel discussion on a Pakistani news channel, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to be removed if talks between the two nations have to resume.
The Congress leader's comments evoked sharp response from BJP and RJD, with the saffron outfit saying Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi should react to this and let the country know their stand on the issue.
The Congress, however, said BJP's charges were "absolute nonsense" and that Aiyar communicated to the party that he had not said any such thing.
When the anchor of Duniya TV asked what is to be done to end the stalemate in the relations between the two nations, Aiyar responded, "The first and the foremost thing is to remove Modi. Only then can the talks move forward. We have to wait for four more years. They (panelists) are all optimist and that we can move forward when Modi sahab is there, but I don't think so."
He further said, "Bring us (the Congress) back to power and remove them. There is no other way (to better the relations). We will remove them, but till then you (Pakistan) have to wait."
Sought his reaction to the issue, Congress leader Tom Vaddakan said, "This is absolutely nonsense. I have a letter with me written by Mr Aiyer in which he categorically denies saying anything like that. So there is no question of distancing from it."
The BJP termed it as an "extremely serious, worrisome and completely incorrect."
"What is even more worrisome is that two senior Congress leaders, first Salman Khurshid, who is the former External Affairs Minister, and now Mani Shankar Aiyar, within a week's span have given such a statement in a nation which is clearly anti-India and has even perpetrated terror in India.
"Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should react to this and let the country know its stand on the issue," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.
Attacking Aiyar for the statement, RJD's Manoj Jha said even somebody with "minimum sanity" will condemn this statement. "Even a kindergarten student will not issue such a statement," he said.
Aiyar had last week created a controversy with his remarks in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.
Reacting to the attacks in Paris on Friday killing 129 people, Aiyar had said that "the anti-Islam phobia that is being carried out in the western countries should be stopped immediately. The Muslims living in France should be provided with the assurance that they are also citizens of the country." In addition to expressing remorse, Aiyar said, "we should also think that why this situation has raised?"
Condemning Aiyar's remarks, Union minister Najma Heptulla said the Sonia Gandhi-led party has lost confidence amongst people in the country and hence, "begging" support from the neighbouring nation.
"I feel Congress party has become sure that it has lost confidence amongst 125 crore people of the country and hence, they are feeling this need to approach neighbours to beg (support). I am disappointed and condemn it (Aiyar's remarks)," Heptulla said.
The Union Minority Affairs Minister said she felt pity that Aiyar has "lost memory" as she recalled that it was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who first extended hand of friendship towards Pakistan.
"It was Atal Bihar Vajpayee, the first Prime Minister to travel up to Pakistan in a bus extending friendship. In return of the same, we had to face Kargil war which Aiyar is praising, for attacking India. I am sure he will also praise Mumbai terror attack, in which people were killed," she said.