Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back at the Congress leadership for accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of spreading the “poison” of communalism and charged Congress for using Jawaharlal Nehru’s Anniversary to divide society and spread hatred. Whatever the politics maybe, I don’t want to comment on it but BJP leaders and supporters’ outrage against Nehru is visible. BJP should stop making noises about Panditji’s birthday celebrations; they are abusing Panditji. Yes, if you are raising question about inviting Modi, then disrespecting your own PM is disrespecting your own nation. Even, Nehru used to send a young opposition leader at that time for important assignments in both India and abroad to follow up on industrial movement. Then young leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee too was given many opportunities by Nehru; he had a very sensible rapport with Nehru-Gandhis. Nehru did not differentiate between persons because of party affiliations, then why these people are doing so in Nehru’s name?
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi gets the chance to put across his opinion, as we all know that he connects with people very often. His point is very clear. If English was out of this country after the British left, it would have been difficult for Indians themselves to converse and communicate as India has so many religion languages. North Indians would not be able to do trade in South India or in East or West. English is essential. Modi’s inability to speak English is termed as patriotism and love for Hindi, but no one notices he lacks knowledge of other languages also. Rahul Gandhi gave apt reply by saying; ‘this is the only country which won its war of independence with love.’ Today, India is ruled by people who are angry. They say we have to promote Hindi, not English. The Congress is the only party that has the strength to fight this. After Rahul Gandhi’s barbs at BJP, a squabble over ‘English-Vinglish,’ he said his party stood for love and brotherhood, without which India would never have achieved so much. After the British left, leaders like Nehru did not allow English to go away. Nehru said we must be connected to the world. The British have left but we must draw benefits from their language. If we had removed English, then there would be no IIT, no IT. Our people would not have achieved so much in the US. He further commented that the foundation of that brotherhood was “being weakened” by those ruling the country, without naming the BJP, which came to power in May after defeating the Congress.
The way BJP is behaving with regard to leaders of the freedom movement, it is most appropriate decision by the Congress to not invite Modi who might have used that opportunity also to score political mileage desecrating the sanctity of the opportunity. It is evident that the recent acts of present government created division between Nehru and Patel just for the sake of their ill objectives.
Rahul Gandhi tore Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP, saying “India is ruled by people who are angry.” He also defined the ‘Clean India’ campaign as a photo-op. Facing an onslaught on Jawaharlal Nehru’s legacy from the NDA government, the Congress will take a pledge to protect his values and vision on his 125th Birth Anniversary on November 14. An international conference is also lined up on November 17-18 at the Vigyan Bhavan in which foreign dignitaries and delegations of political parties will reflect on Nehru’s worldview and legacy in the context of contemporary global challenges. The Congress is miffed over Modi’s plans to dismantle the legacy of Nehru, and the prime minister’s attempts to appropriate the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The government is in the process of winding up the Planning Commission, a symbol of Nehru’s socialist approach to economic development, and is working on privatising some public sector units set up during his reign. The Congress is also angry that Modi chose to observe Patel’s birth anniversary on October 31 as National Unity Day with much fanfare but ignored the martyrdom of former PM Indira Gandhi, who was killed by her bodyguards on that date in 1984. However, the Congress praised BJP’s first prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his praise of Nehru on a website.
The guests for the conference include former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai, South African freedom fighter Ahmed Kathrada and chief negotiator of Palestine Nabil Shaath. Political party delegations from the Communist Party of China, African National Congress, Awami League of Bangladesh and Nepali Congress are also expected. This might end up as a big event and Congress once again will succeed in reaching to people, as many are not happy with BJP these days.
Anyways, let’s leave politics for politicians and remember our beloved ‘Chacha’ Nehru and his great contribution towards nation building.
Happy Children’s Day.
