New Delhi: Mani Shankar Aiyar is known to speak his mind without caring about political consequences.
The senior Congress leader triggered a fresh controversy with remarks about former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s educational qualifications.
In a video, which was shared by BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, Aiyar is heard saying that he and many others had questioned Rajiv’s appointment as Prime Minister as he was “an airline pilot, who had failed twice.”
Aiyar, who has penned a book about Rahul Gandhi’s father titled ‘The Rajiv I Knew’, says the late Congress leader was academically weak, and that he was surprised how such a person was made the PM.
“When Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister, people thought, I thought, he’s an airline pilot, he has failed twice… I studied with him in Cambridge… he failed there, where it is considered very easy to pass. After this he took admission in Imperial College London, but failed there as well. So, I wondered how such a person could become the Prime Minister,” Aiyar said.
It’s not clear when the video clip shared by Malviya was shot. But the BJP leader pounced on the opportunity to take a dig at Rajiv and reiterate Aiyar’s words.
“Rajiv Gandhi struggled academically, even failing at Cambridge, where passing is relatively easy. He then moved to Imperial College London but failed there as well… Many questioned how someone with his academic record could become the Prime Minister. Let the veil be stripped,” wrote Malviya.
Rajiv Gandhi struggled academically, even failing at Cambridge, where passing is relatively easy. He then moved to Imperial College London but failed there as well…
Many questioned how someone with his academic record could become the Prime Minister.
Let the veil be stripped. pic.twitter.com/m9serSGQMs
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 5, 2025
Congress leaders dismissed Aiyar’s remarks in the video, saying that his words are irrelevant.
“Mani Shankar Aiyar has no relevance in the party. He does not hold any significant position. Therefore, there is no need to give much attention to his statement,” Ajay Singh Yadav said.
Congress MP Tariq Anwar, said even the best people fail, but Rajiv Gandhi did not fail in politics.
“Failing is not a big deal; even the best people fail sometimes. But he did not fail in politics. When he was given political responsibility and became Prime Minister, I believe there have been very few Prime Ministers in our country who have achieved as much in just five years,” Tariq remarked.
