NEW DELHI: Unruly flyers beware, India has now decided to adopt a “no/zero tolerance policy” towards them with immediate effect to “ensure the safety of aircraft/persons/property and to maintain good order & discipline on board.” The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come out with draft rules for handling such passengers in aircraft.The big change proposed by DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai is that airlines will now have to establish procedures to “deal with unruly passengers while at airport or on-board the aircraft. The SOP will need to be communicated throughout the organisation and especially to all employees who are in direct contact with passengers, both on the ground and on the aircraft.”“All airlines shall establish mechanism to detect and report unruly passenger behaviour at check-in, in the lounges, at the boarding gate or any other place in the terminal building or at the airside in order to prevent such passengers from boarding. Such cases shall be reported immediately with law enforcement agency at the aerodrome,” it says.“The home ministry may provide to DGCA and to airlines, a list of individuals identified as national security threats for inclusion in the No-Fly List. Such cases will not be covered by appeal provisions as provided under (rules). Further, National Security threats list provided by Ministry of Home Affairs shall be shared with the airlines. However, this list will not be a part of published No Fly List. Separately, law enforcement agencies may take action in accordance with applicable law under their jurisdiction,” the draft says. Such people will be barred till the time the home ministry deems them to be a national security risk.The regulator has also struck a balance between ensuring passenger rights and giving powers of reporting unruly behaviour to airlines. “Unruly behaviour could be the result of an event of unsatisfactory service/condition or effect of a series of such events that build up. Airline staff should observe early signs of potential unruly behaviour. Airlines shall focus and act on these early signs, rather than dealing exclusively with escalated events. At no stage, the airline staff/crew member shall show discourteous behaviour during redressal of genuine passenger rights,” the draft says.The draft proposes that the no fly rules apply to “all passengers during the period of air travel to/from India”. This means as opposed to being applicable to Indian carriers and airports, the rules will apply to unruly passengers travelling foreign airlines as well on flights to and from India if those carriers report the matter.India no fly rules categories unruly behavior into four levels with restriction on flying for upto a lifetime.

Robodog row at AI Summit: Galgotias University apologises, blames professor’s ‘enthusiasm’ for controversy

Galgotias University issued an apology following a row over the showcase of a Chinese-made robotic dog at its booth during the AI Impact Summit expo at Bharat Mandapam. However, in its statement, the university attributed the lapse to a woman faculty member. The apology came after the university was asked to vacate its pavilion at the summit. In a press release, it expressed regret over the controversy, stating that the situation stemmed from Professor Neha Singh — who was overseeing the stall — not being aware of the product’s technical origins. Read full story

‘Himanta is Assam’s Jinnah’: Congress plays down Bhupen Borah’s exit; alleges ‘confidential leaks’

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi hit out at Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calling him “Assam’s Jinnah” and dismissed the exit of former state chief Bhupen Borah from the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party as politically insignificant ahead of the polls. He also alleged that the move reflected Borah’s proximity to the chief minister and was aimed at diverting attention from allegations against him. Speaking in Guwahati, Gogoi said the defection would not affect Congress’s campaign, while Borah defended his decision citing humiliation within the party and said he had raised his concerns with Rahul Gandhi. Read full story

ECI announces Rajya Sabha biennial elections for 37 seats across 10 states

The Election Commission of India has announced that biennial elections to fill 37 vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha across 10 states will be held on March 16, with polling from 9am to 4pm and counting from 5pm the same day, as terms of outgoing members end in April 2026. The notification for the same will be issued on February 26, nominations close March 5, scrutiny is on March 6 and withdrawal is allowed till March 9, while states going to polls include Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar, and retiring MPs this cycle include Upendra Kushwaha, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tiruchi Siva, Saket Gokhale, Ramdas Athawale, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sharad Pawar, Bhagwat Karad, Mamata Mohanta, Rameswar Teli, Indu Bala Goswami, K. T. S. Tulsi, N. R. Elango, Amarendra Dhari Singh and Kiran Choudhry. Read full story

‘Was anxious about her future after my death’: Former Isro employee murders wife inside Bengaluru flat

A former employee of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Nagesh Ishwar Rao, was arrested for allegedly strangling his wife Sandhya Shri to death at their apartment in the Virtuoso Apartment Complex in Bengaluru, police said, adding that preliminary investigations indicate he was undergoing treatment for depression and was in distress, and allegedly told officers he feared for his wife’s future if he died and intended to take his own life after the attack. Deputy commissioner of Police said no other major motive has emerged so far and that the couple’s daughter, who lives in the United States, has been informed. Read full story

With Super 8 spot on the line, Pakistan drop Shaheen Afridi for must-win match vs Namibia

The Pakistan men’s cricket team left out fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi from the playing XI for their must-win group match against the Namibia men’s cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday. Captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat, making two changes after the defeat to the India men’s cricket team, with Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafay replacing Shaheen and Abrar Ahmed. Pakistan entered the match needing a win to stay in Super 8 contention after their 61-run loss, with senior batter Babar Azam and Shaheen facing criticism for form. Read full story

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have registered an FIR under the Arms Act after allegedly finding that a quick-commerce platform was selling illegal knives online. The complainant in the case, a constable posted at Khyala police station in west Delhi, stated that two recent murder incidents in the Khyala area were allegedly committed using knives purchased through online platforms. Following these incidents, police began scrutinising various e-commerce and quick-delivery platforms offering knives for sale.The constable placed the order on February 13 at 3.43 pm and paid Rs 710 online. The delivery address was deliberately given as the second floor of the police station. The knife was delivered at around 4.05 pm the same day on the police station premises. “During the checking of online platforms selling knives, it was found that a quick-commerce platform was selling prohibited knives online,” a police officer said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar said that, as part of a verification exercise, police placed an order for a knife through the online platform, Blinkit to ascertain whether the product being sold complied with legal specifications. “The knife that was delivered was found to be ‘gararidar’ (manually opened and closed) and exceeded the maximum permitted blade length of 7.62 cm and maximum permitted blade width of 1.72 cm. The knife had a blade length of 8 cm and a width of 2.5 cm. Hence, it was an illegal arm in violation of the government notification,” the DCP said. The complainant said that upon examination, the knife was found to have a steel blade and a black metal handle equipped with a steel strip mechanism. He added that pressing the strip allowed the blade to open and close, and a button mechanism between the blade and the handle facilitated its operation. The tax invoice reportedly listed the seller as the online platform, with an address in Tihar village, west Delhi. Based on these findings, a case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered. During further investigation on February 15, a total of 16 knives were recovered from various dark stores and platform-linked outlets across Delhi. Police teams continued their raids the following day and recovered 32 illegal knives from a warehouse of the platform located in Farrukhnagar, Gurgaon (Haryana). So far, a total of 50 knives have been seized in connection with the case. Police said further investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the procurement, storage and sale of the prohibited weapons.A response was sought from platform.

NEW DELHI: Galgotias University on Wednesday apologised after a controversy erupted over the display of a Chinese-made robotic dog at its stall during the AI Impact Summit expo at Bharat Mandapam. In the statement however, the university blamed the woman professor for the fiasco. The university issued a press statement after it was asked to vacate its pavilion at the summit. In the statement, it expressed regret over the confusion and said it arose because Professor Neha Singh, who was managing the stall, was unaware of the product’s technical origins.

“We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press… Understanding the organisers sentiment we have vacated the premises.”The robotic dog, showcased as “Orion”, was identified by observers as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot manufactured by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics. The incident triggered criticism, as the summit was aimed at highlighting domestic innovation in artificial intelligence.The controversy began after the robotic dog displayed at the university’s booth was recognised as the Unitree Go2, which is available commercially in India for around Rs 2–3 lakh. Critics alleged that the robot was presented as an in-house innovation, raising concerns about the showcasing of imported technology at a national AI event.Government sources earlier said Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall following the row. Power supply to the pavilion was also reportedly cut off after the university was directed to leave the expo.The AI Impact Summit 2026, inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a flagship event focused on promoting India’s advancements and capabilities in artificial intelligence.

What triggered the row?

The controversy escalated after Professor Neha Singh, while presenting the robot earlier, told DD News, “We are the first private university investing more than 350 crore rupees in artificial intelligence and we have a dedicated data science and artificial intelligence block on the campus. So Orion has been developed by the Center of Excellences and as you can see, it can take all shapes and sizes.”“It’s quite naughty also. It’s quite naughty also and it can perform small tasks of surveillance, monitoring,” she added.Her remarks led to scrutiny after observers identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, a product sold globally by Unitree Robotics.

University’s earlier clarifications

In its first clarification issued after the row broke out, the university stated that it had neither built nor claimed to have built the robotic dog, emphasising that its focus was on student learning.“Let us be clear – Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat. Innovation knows no borders. Learning should not either. We will continue to source the best technologies from across the world so our students can study them, challenge them, improve upon them—and ultimately create world-class solutions from India for the world.”In a subsequent statement, the university said concerns about “propaganda” against it were misplaced.“We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour.”Professor Neha Singh also addressed the controversy, saying, “The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. Also, the intent may not have been properly understood. One important point is regarding the robot dog—we cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so.”

Rahul Gandhi describes summit as ‘disorganised PR spectacle’

The issue also drew sharp reactions from the Opposition.The Congress party said on X: “The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI. In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India. What is even more shameful is the fact that Modi’s minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China’s robots at the Indian summit.”“The Modi Government has caused irreparable damage to the image of the country – they have reduced AI to a joke – a field in which we could be world leaders given our data power,” it added.Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described the summit as a “disorganised PR spectacle.” In a post on X, he said, “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle – Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased.”

The atmosphere at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo was electric this Wednesday, as Pakistan faced Namibia in a high-stakes Group A encounter of the T20 World Cup. In what was the 35th match of the tournament, the narrative was completely stolen by one man: Sahibzada Farhan. On a day where Pakistan needed to assert their dominance, Farhan delivered a masterclass in power-hitting, becoming only the second Pakistani in history to score a T20 World Cup century.

Pakistan elected to bat first, a decision that proved fruitful as they set a daunting target for the Namibian side. While the early loss of Saim Ayub (14) provided a momentary flicker of hope for the Namibian bowlers, it was quickly extinguished by a relentless onslaught led by Farhan.

Sahibzada Farhan hammers stunning century against Namibia in key T20 World Cup 2026 match

The highlight of the innings and perhaps Pakistan’s tournament so far came in the final over. At 19.1 overs, the tension was palpable as Farhan sat on 99. Off the next delivery, he worked a ball from Gerhard Erasmus down the ground for a single, sparking wild celebrations in the stands. This 100 off 58 deliveries was a historic milestone, marking Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup ton since Ahmed Shehzad’s famous century against Bangladesh in 2014.

Farhan’s innings was a blend of calculated aggression and pure timing. He reached his fifty in 37 balls, but it was his acceleration in the death overs that left the Namibian fielders chasing shadows. Finishing 100 not out, his knock included 11 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, operating at a strike rate of 172.41. Fans across social media have gone gaga over his performance, hailing him as the new backbone of the Pakistani top order in the post-2024 transition era.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Sahibzada Farhan’s ton takes Pakistan to 199 #cricket #PAKvNAM #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/yd9r9Npd4e

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 18, 2026

🚨DOCUMENTARY COMING SOON🚨
100 FOR SAHIBZADA FARHAN
2nd Pakistani after Ahmed Shehzad pic.twitter.com/vM3hp8u0H7

— CricFlix (@PRAVIN0070) February 18, 2026

PAKISTANIS TO SCORE 100 IN T20 WORLD CUPS:

– Ahmed Shehzad – 2014
– Sahibzada Farhan – 2026

– Sahibzada Farhan now shares the elite record with his idol Ahmed Shehzad. 🇵🇰🔥 pic.twitter.com/sehPZ2pWMs

— Muhammad asif (@asif38689) February 18, 2026

Outstanding knock by Sahibzada Farhan! 💯🔥
Congratulations champion! 🇵🇰 So so happy for your achievement.♥️#sahibzadafarhan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fs2YbOs7sM

— Syed Farhan Naqvi (@SyedFarhanNaqve) February 18, 2026

🚨 HUNDRED FOR SAHIBZADA FARHAN IN THE MUST WIN GAME FOR PAKISTAN 🚨

– Only batter to score more than 200 runs in this tournament 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Kun3p1iP9F

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2026

Pakistani batters to score T20I centuries outside Pakistan:

• Babar Azam vs SA, Centurion, 2021
• Ahmed Shehzad vs BAN, Mirpur, 2014
• Hasan Nawaz vs NZ, Auckland, 2025
• Sahibzada Farhan vs NAM, Colombo, 2026* pic.twitter.com/tCeRDJ3g6V

— Abdul Rehman Yaseen (@Aryaseen5911) February 18, 2026

Mr. Consistent for Pakistan Sahibzada Farhan! 🔥

What an incredible knock — 100 off just 57 balls in a high-pressure game!
Pure class, composure, and fearless cricket from the young man.

199 on the board… Super 8, here we come! 🇵🇰💚
Come on Pakistan, finish it now!#PAKvsNAM… pic.twitter.com/I4o6MiimqF

— Mushtaq Ahmed (@Mushtaqq_) February 18, 2026

Sahibzada Farhan leads the way for Pakistan with a Brilliant Hundred against Namibia 💪
Congratulations Pakistan Team 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 #PAKVSNAM
It is one of the @MarriottBonvoy Milestones of the #T20WorldCup 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
📝: https://t.co/r6WS7hq0cc… pic.twitter.com/55WTiFSBVp

— TAHIRMKHAN (@Huseeb59) February 18, 2026

HUNDRED FOR SAHIBZADA FARHAN!!! 🔥

100* off 57 balls, including 11 fours and 4 sixes. He is carrying Pakistan’s batting single-handedly on the big stage! 👏 pic.twitter.com/YQHEssqjb9

— Mir Za⁵⁶ (@Mirza143146) February 18, 2026

SAHIBZADA FARHAN IN T20 WORLD CUP SO FAR 🔥

47 (31) vs ND
73 (41) vs USA
0 (4) vs IND
100* (58) vs NAM

LEADING RUN-SCORER OF THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/21nvj7IIxe

— Arsalan 🏏 (@CricWithArsal) February 18, 2026

Also WATCH: Sahibzada Farhan’s bat slips and goes airborne in bizarre on-field moment during PAK vs NAM clash

Pakistan posts formidable total after clinical batting display

Pakistan’s total of 199/3 was built on the back of steady partnerships and a late-inning surge that saw them collect 68 runs in the final five overs. Following the departure of captain Salman Agha (38 off 23), who fell to Jack Brassell after a steadying 67-run stand, and a brief cameo from Khawaja Nafay, the stage was set for a grand finish.

Shadab Khan played the perfect foil to Farhan in the closing stages, contributing a brisk 36* off 22 balls. The duo’s unbeaten 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket effectively batted Namibia out of the contest before the second innings even began. Namibia’s bowling unit struggled in the first innings; while Jack Brassell managed two wickets, he was expensive, conceding 48 runs in his four overs.

Pakistan look poised to secure two crucial points. For Namibia, the task of chasing nearly 10 runs per over against a balanced Pakistani attack remains a monumental challenge in this T20 World Cup campaign.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Here’s why Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed are not playing today’s PAK vs NAM match

NEW DELHI: India “doesn’t engage as a meek country,” Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday asserting that “trust and negotiation from a position of strength,” have defined the country’s recent trade successes.Speaking at the Global Economic Cooperation Summit in Mumbai, Goyal said India’s approach to economic diplomacy is rooted in engagement, confidence and long-term vision.

“Today, India doesn’t engage as a meek country. We are not apologetic about some of the problems that we have. We are negotiating for the future,” he said, describing trade agreements as long-term investments in India’s growth over the coming decades.Highlighting India’s recent record, Goyal noted that the country has signed nine trade agreements since 2022, many of which had been under discussion for nearly two decades. Summing up his strategy in one word, he said: “trust.”“The day you can generate enough confidence in your counterparty that you can be trusted, and the day you trust the person on the other side, the country on the other side, the pathway becomes that much easier,” he said.He added that India has negotiated these agreements “from a position of strength,” while keeping national interests at the forefront. Safeguarding farmers, MSMEs, fishermen and jobs has remained central to discussions.”Our farmers and MSMEs are fully protected. Not a single farmer will have cause for concern,” he said.“We haven’t opened a dairy for any country whatsoever,” he added, underlining that sensitive sectors continue to be protected.“When you’re sincere, you’re honest, when you are able to logically show your position and demonstrate your strength with full sincerity,” he said, it becomes easier to secure favourable terms.Goyal also outlined an expansive vision of India’s economic diplomacy. “I think the first principle of economic diplomacy is that don’t sit so far away from your stakeholders. Come closer to them,” he said.He stressed that India is “at the forefront of building alliances, building friendships, aligning our own trade, our own investment imperatives with the rest of the world.”Outlining India’s long-term ambitions, Goyal said the country aims to become a USD 30–35 trillion economy by 2047. “We are looking for a USD 30-35 trillion economy by 2047 to power India into the league of developed nations. And that’s how we’ll bring prosperity to all people,” he said.“Gone are the days that one could live in economic isolation. One has to engage with the rest of the world. One has to expand international trading arrangements. You have to secure markets.”he added.

NEW DELHI: The controversy around Galgotias University’s displays at its booth at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026 as an in-house innovation, has escalated further, with fresh scrutiny now focusing on another device showcased by the institution. Barely 24 hours after being asked to vacate its stall at the flagship AI summit in the national capital, it is now facing questions over a “drone soccer arena” that faculty members claimed was developed entirely in-house.

In a video now going viral on social media, the university’s communications professor is seen speaking about a “drone soccer arena”, calling it another in-house innovation and claiming it to be “India’s first” such system.“It is a very interesting thing, from its end to end engineering to its application, everything has been done at the university and this is India’s first drone soccer arena which you will get to see on campus at Galgotias and here the children play games inside this arena, fly it, enhance their flagging skills and are developing it in a new way, with more strength and enhanced features, what are these things,” she says.However, several posts on social media have rebutted the assertions, alleging that the drone closely resembles a commercially available product from South Korea. Users have pointed to Helsel, which says it pioneered drone soccer in 2015 before launching the sport in South Korea in 2017. The sport is recognised by the World Air Sports Federation. Some users have also claimed that the device resembles products such as the Stryker V3 ARF available in the market.The Youth Congress also weighed in on X, alleging that the drone was a Korean-made product and questioning the university’s claims.Taking a jibe at PM Modi it said, “First China, now Korea. Galgotias is on a world tour of ‘borrowed’ innovation. They claimed to have built India’s first Drone Soccer from scratch on campus, but it’s actually just a Striker V3 ARF from Korea. Atmanirbhar’ or just ‘Atmanir-buy’ Modi ji?”Earlier a robotic dog showcased by the university as “Orion,” was recognised by observers as the Unitree Go2 made by Chinese robotics firm Unitree. The incident quickly escalated into a wider controversy at the Summit, a flagship AI event inaugurated by PM Modi.The university has not issued a fresh clarification regarding the drone allegations. Earlier, in a press release regarding the robodog controversy the institute had termed it a ‘propaganda’.

What the row is about

The robotic dog showcased at the university’s stall was identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot that is sold in India at an estimated price of Rs 2–3 lakh.Critics alleged that the robot was projected at the summit as an in-house innovation by the university, prompting questions over the display of imported technology at a national AI platform intended to spotlight indigenous developments.As scrutiny mounted, electricity supply to the university’s pavilion at the AI Summit was reportedly disconnected after organisers asked the institution to vacate the exhibition space. Government sources later confirmed that authorities had directed the university to vacate the expo area, stressing compliance and transparency standards at the summit.

What triggered the row

During an earlier presentation of the robot, Professor Neha Singh told DD News that the university had made significant investments in artificial intelligence.She said, “We are the first private university investing more than 350 crore rupees in artificial intelligence and we have a dedicated data science and artificial intelligence block on the campus. So Orion has been developed by the Center of Excellences and as you can see, it can take all shapes and sizes.”Describing its functions, she added, “It’s quite naughty also. It’s quite naughty also and it can perform small tasks of surveillance, monitoring.”Following the robotic dog controversy, the university had said in a statement, “Let us be clear, Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we claimed to do so. What we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer and manufacture such technologies in Bharat.”

Mani Shankar Aiyar (PTI image)

NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Wednesday doubled down on his recent remarks in which he described himself as a “Gandhian”, a “Nehruvian” and a “Rajivian”, but not a “Rahulian”. The sidelined leader said that he is not a “Rahulian” because Rahul Gandhi is “far too much younger” than him and “far too distant” in his political life.

Speaking to PTI, Aiyar said, “I recently said that ‘I am a Gandhian, I am a Nehruvian, I am a Rajivian, but I am not a Rahulian’.”Explaining why he described himself as a “Gandhian”, Aiyar said, “I was six-year-old and my brother was four when Mahatma Gandhi picked us up in his arms and said ‘ye mere aankhon ke suraj aur chand hain’.” “From there, I became a ‘Gandhivaadi’.”On his identification with India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, he said, “As 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.”Aiyar said he considers himself a “Rajivian” because of his association with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. “I 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… I could not believe it. That is how I became a Rajivian,” he said.He also clarified that he did not describe himself as an “Indiravian” as he “totally disapproved” of Indira Gandhi “converting our democracy into a tyranny by declaring an Emergency, albeit for only 18 months”.Referring to his comment on Rahul Gandhi, Aiyar said, “How can one expect me to be a ‘Rahulian’ when the boy is about 30 years younger than me, and I haven’t had an opportunity to work with him? That is why I cannot be a ‘Rahulian’ because he is far too much younger than me and far too distant from me in his political life.”The 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, “So, 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.”The Congress distanced itself from his remarks. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said that Aiyar “has had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years” 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.