Even present BJP-ruled central government has continued with policy of worshipping Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, made popular by prefixing Mahatma before his name. He continues to have privileged honour by getting his photo printed on notes of all denominations issued even by the present regime after demonetisation of old currency-notes of Rs 500 and 1000 on November 8, 2016.
Many in BJP and RSS including holding ministerial posts do not favour continuing with such practice because of so-alleged minority-appeasing pseudo-secular policy of Gandhi who is said to have made biggest mistake of post-independence India by vetoing against the deserving Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel becoming first Prime Minister of India. That single mistake made Nehru-Gandhi family push country into dynastic tradition following pseudo-secularism of minority-appeasing for vote-bank politics.
Independence of nation was in fact result of great sacrifices done by great martyrs including like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, who were said to have been denied even legal assistance from the then Congress dominated by Gandhi. Role of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in freedom-struggle is not given importance as if non-violence was the only factor behind India getting freedom. At least BJP-led central government should take steps so that all heroes of freedom-struggle may be equally honoured including those which did not get support pre-independence Congress-leadership. Beginning can be made by simultaneously issuing a new series of currency-notes and coins with photos of great martyrs of freedom-struggle.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
