![\"'Far](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-128504743,imgsize-1016593,width-400,resizemode-4\/128504743.jpg\" "\\"Mani")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar<\/a> on Wednesday doubled down on his recent remarks in which he described himself as a \u201cGandhian\u201d, a \u201cNehruvian\u201d and a \u201cRajivian\u201d, but not a \u201cRahulian\u201d. The sidelined leader said that he is not a \u201cRahulian\u201d because Rahul Gandhi<\/a> is \u201cfar too much younger\u201d than him and \u201cfar too distant\u201d in his political life.Speaking to PTI, Aiyar said, \u201cI recently said that \u2018I am a Gandhian, I am a Nehruvian, I am a Rajivian, but I am not a Rahulian\u2019.\u201dExplaining why he described himself as a \u201cGandhian\u201d, Aiyar said, \u201cI was six-year-old and my brother was four when Mahatma Gandhi picked us up in his arms and said \u2018ye mere aankhon ke suraj aur chand hain\u2019.\u201d \u201cFrom there, I became a \u2018Gandhivaadi\u2019.\u201dOn his identification with India\u2019s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, he said, \u201cAs for Nehru, I was six when he became the prime minister, and I was 23 when he ceased being one, so my entire growing-up years were steeped in the Nehruvian ethos; that is why I also regard myself as a Nehruvian.\u201dAiyar said he considers himself a \u201cRajivian\u201d because of his association with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. \u201cI call myself a Rajivian because it was he, although two years younger than me, who astonished me by bringing me into the PMO and by doing the things he did\u2026 I could not believe it. That is how I became a Rajivian,\u201d he said.He also clarified that he did not describe himself as an \u201cIndiravian\u201d as he \u201ctotally disapproved\u201d of Indira Gandhi \u201cconverting our democracy into a tyranny by declaring an Emergency, albeit for only 18 months\u201d.Referring to his comment on Rahul Gandhi, Aiyar said, \u201cHow can one expect me to be a \u2018Rahulian\u2019 when the boy is about 30 years younger than me, and I haven\u2019t had an opportunity to work with him? That is why I cannot be a \u2018Rahulian\u2019 because he is far too much younger than me and far too distant from me in his political life.\u201dThe remarks come amid strained ties between Aiyar and the Congress leadership. The controversy began after he praised the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in Kerala and expressed confidence that the chief minister would continue in office.Speaking at an international seminar in Thiruvananthapuram, Aiyar had said, \u201cSo, in the presence of the chief minister, who I am sure will be the next chief minister, I renew my plea that to reinforce 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 Ramachandran circulated by the Planning Commission when it truly supported Panchayati Raj.\u201dThe Congress distanced itself from his remarks. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said that Aiyar \u201chas had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years\u201d and that he speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the people of Kerala would bring the Congress-led United Democratic Front back to power in the state.<\/div>\n\n