New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has sparked off fresh row with his controversial remarks on oppressive & tyrannical Mughal era in the country.
As opposed to general belief, the Congress leader eulogized the Mughal emperors including Babar & Humayun and claimed that there was no oppression and forceful conversion of Hindus under the Mughal regime.
Speaking at an event on Nov 14 to mark 132nd birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, Aiyar said that it was India’s first PM only who understood the diversity of India.
Congress leader also went on singing paeans for Mughal rule and also strongly defended the Muslim emperors.
Aiyar said, “Muslim sultans, kings and emperors occupied the Delhi throne for 666 years. After that, how many Muslims and Hindus were left in this country? The numbers are very clear in the last 100-125 years. The British conducted the first census in 1872. After ruling for 666 years. The proportion of Muslims in the country was about 24% while Hindus constituted 72%. And these people say that there was violence, all girls were raped and they converted everyone to Islam. If this was true, 72% should have been Muslim and 24% Hindus.
The Congress leader also said that BJP doesn’t consider non-Hindus as Indians and they can be forced out of the country.
BJP took a strong objection to Aiyar’s allegations and slammed Congress leaders’ attempt to ‘degrade’ Hindutva. Days ago, Salman Khurshid compared Hindutva to terror groups including ISIS & Boko Haram, setting off wave of complaints against him.
LIVE: Celebration of 75th year of India’s Independence & 132nd birth anniversary of former PM Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru #RememberingNehru https://t.co/Dr2cyR52Yu
— Congress (@INCIndia) November 14, 2021
Aiyar’s brush with controversy
Aiyar is not new to controversies. In the past too, he has stoked controversy with his ‘hateful’ remarks. He was suspended from Congress between December 2017 to August 2018 for making derogatory remarks against PM Modi.
