NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar reflected on his long-standing yet limited interactions with Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, and expressed the irony of his political journey, saying his career was both made and unmade by the Gandhis.
During an exclusive interview with PTI, he mentioned that aside from one occasion, he had limited meaningful interactions with Rahul Gandhi, and he had only spent time with Priyanka Gandhi on two occasions.
“For 10 years, I was not given an opportunity to meet Sonia Gandhi one-on-one. I was not given an opportunity, except once, of spending any meaningful time with Rahul Gandhi. And I have not spent time with Priyanka except on one occasion, no, two occasions. She comes on the phone to me, so I’m in touch with them. So, the irony of my life is that my political career was made by the Gandhis and unmade by the Gandhis,” he told PTI.
‘Manmohan Singh as President, Pranab as PM’
Aiyar recounted the time when Congress “had two disasters taking place” in 2012, with Sonia Gandhi falling ill and Manmohan Singh going through six bypass surgeries.
He said that the party had chosen Pranab Mukherjee as the prime minister instead of Manmohan Singh, and latter as the President, Congress wouldn’t have lost in 2014 Lok Sabha polls “by this massive humiliating defeat that we actually had.”
“You see, in 2012, we had two disasters taking place: one was that Sonia Gandhi fell very ill, and Dr Manmohan Singh had six bypasses. So, we were crippled at the head of the government and at the head of the party,” he said.
“…if Dr Manmohan Singh had become the President and Pranab had become the PM, I still think we would have lost in 2014 (Lok Sabha polls), but not by this massive humiliating defeat that we actually had, where we fell to 44 seats…,” he added.
‘I am not Christian’: When Sonia’s reaction surprised Aiyar
Aiyar recalled how Sonia Gandhi reacted when he wished her “Merry Christmas” once.
“And she says, ‘I’m not a Christian.’ Naturally, I was completely taken aback. But I think she does not see herself as a Christian,” he said.
“Like I don’t see myself as belonging to any particular religion. I am a non-believer, and I’m quite ready to say that. But, being a non-believer doesn’t mean I disrespect religions. What it means is that I respect all religions equally,” he added.
Mani Shankar Aiyar is a former diplomat, having served in the Indian Foreign Service. He represented the Mayiladuthurai constituency of Tamil Nadu in the 10th, 13th, and 14th Lok Sabha, and was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
