New Delhi, Feb 17 In a strong statement, veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that if the Congress cannot tolerate dissent, then the party's future is bleak, and if it lacks the courage to address dissenting voices in a "polite but firm manner," then it does not deserve to rule.
Aiyar also recalled former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's words in Parliament in 1989 that "only a secular Bharat can survive," and challenged the Congress high command to have Rahul Gandhi repeat those words.
"The Congress thrives on dissent. The Congress grows because of diverse opinions, and this is linked to the Vedic principle that God is one, and therefore, the Congress is one," Aiyar said in a video released as part of his series, 'Mani Talk', on YouTube.
He has been uploading videos on his YouTube channel for the past few months.
"If the current establishment cannot tolerate dissent, then I am afraid, the Congress is doomed," the former Union minister said.
"We have always thrived on dissent, and dissent is the foundation of democracy. If we lack the courage to address dissent in a polite but firm manner, then we don't deserve to rule," Aiyar said in his 23-minute video titled 'No Space for Dissent in Today’s Congress?'.
He recalled that in May 1989, Rajiv Gandhi had stated in Parliament that only a secular Bharat can survive. Rajiv Gandhi had followed up with, "...and if India is not secular, then perhaps it does not deserve to survive."
"I urge the Congress high command, who have kept me out of the working committee, to have their son, Rajiv Gandhi, repeat these words," Aiyar said.
He pointed out that Arif Mohammad Khan was the first dissident in Rajiv Gandhi's time.
"He is now trying to become the vice president of the BJP. He is actually a member of the BJP. Another prominent dissident was VP Singh. VP Singh was my closest finance minister, and it was not the Congress that ousted VP Singh, but VP Singh who left the Congress," Aiyar said.
"Similarly, Arun Nehru was the most powerful voice in the Congress, but when Rajiv Gandhi discovered that he was responsible for opening the Babri Masjid and allowing the Ram Lalla Virajman to be installed, he removed Arun Nehru from the cabinet, and Arun Nehru subsequently left the Congress," Aiyar recalled.
Aiyar also claimed that Arun Nehru was responsible for the Bofors scam.
In the video, Aiyar cited several instances of dissent within the Congress.
His comments come amid growing tensions between him and the Congress. This began when Aiyar, speaking in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, expressed confidence that Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would continue to be Kerala's chief minister at an international seminar in Thiruvananthapuram, which was inaugurated by Vijayan.
At the event, Aiyar remarked, "So, in the presence of the chief minister, who I am sure will be the next chief minister, I renew my plea that in order to strengthen Kerala as the best panchayati raj state in the country, state laws should be amended based on practical experience, Thomas Isaac's insights, the five-volume report I chaired, and the note on district planning by V K Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission, which truly supported panchayati raj."
The Congress distanced itself from Aiyar's remarks, saying he has had no connection with the party for the last few years and that he speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity.
The grand old party also asserted that the people of Kerala will bring the Congress-led alliance United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power in the southern state for more responsible and responsive governance.
On Monday, Aiyar went on a verbal attack against his party colleagues, a day after remarking that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) would retain power in Kerala.
In a series of scathing remarks, Aiyar branded Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor an "unprincipled careerist," labelled AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal a "rowdy," and took a swipe at party veteran Ramesh Chennithala.
"I have never met a more unprincipled careerist than Shashi Tharoor, who, because the Congress did not make him the foreign minister, is now trying to become Modi's foreign minister. The Congress party was built on principles, not on opportunism," Aiyar had said.
Aiyar also took aim at Pawan Khera, referring to Congress national spokesperson as a "tattu" (pony). Aiyar was reacting when asked about a social media post by Khera distancing the party from his remarks.