Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that the Nehru-Gandhi family had neglected contribution of leaders like fighters like Subhas Chandra Bose, the Congress party on Sunday hit back saying that those who made no contribution to the freedom struggle are trying to appropriate the legacy of freedom fighters, The Indian Express reported.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that the Congress has always protected, preserved and propagated ideals of Bose.
Singhvi also said that the ideologies followed by BJP and Bose are as different as chalk and cheese.
“Today, the RSS and BJP are praising Netaji for his military endeavors to liberate India, but their ideological ancestors had done the opposite. When Netaji was revamping the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) in Japan and Gandhi had given the ‘Quit India’ call, the RSS was hand in gloves with the British. Hindu Mahasabha under V D Savarkar’s leadership organised recruitment camps for the British armed forces.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress and made a veiled attack on the Gandhi family while addressing an event at the Red Fort to mark the anniversary of the proclamation of the 'Azad Hind Sarkar' by Subhash Chandra Bose.
PM Modi said that to keep "one family" above the rest, efforts were made to forget the contributions of leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose in the Independence struggle. He said that his government is now changing this.
“In an effort to highlight the role of one family, efforts were made to deliberately ignore and forget contributions made by others in the independence struggle, and later in creating a new India.”PM Modi quoted by PTI
Going on to further praise Subhash Chandra Bose’s spirit of nationalism, PM Modi said as a 16-year old, he was aggrieved at the plight of India under the British rule. "His ideology was nationalism, he lived by nationalism," the PM said.
PM Modi then added that while Bose focused on the east and Northeast India, the two regions did not get due recognition but his government is now working to make the Northeast the ‘engine of growth’.
The prime minister also issued caution to ‘forces’ inside and outside India which are ‘working against the country by targeting it and its constitutional values’ and said a feeling of nationalism and ‘Indian-ness’ is must to counter such designs. PM Modi also stated that India never eyes anyone else's territory but will hit back with "double the force" if its sovereignty is ever challenged.
In a different event, while inaugurating the National Police Memorial and Museum, PM Modi again hit out at the Congress in his speech, “Had the earlier government wanted and tried by its heart, the memorial would have been built several years ago," he said. "Why did it take 70 years after Independence to get the memorial into reality, why it took so long even after 60 years of the Hot Spring incident..." questioned the PM, reported NDTV.
The prime minister further raked up the issue of making Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s files public, which he pointed out as an example of what his government had done during its tenure.
“In the last four years, several measures were taken to strengthen the defence. Best technologies were brought to the defence. This govt has strength to make big and tough decisions, it’ll continue. Be it surgical strike or making the files of Netaji public, decision was taken by our government.”PM Narendra Modi, according to ANI
Hitting back at the prime minister’s comments, the Congress questioned the timing and occasion chosen by the PM to direct such criticisms.
“PM holds a constitutional post and talks about politics 24/7 and blames others. Was it right for him to talk about that on an auspicious day like today? He sometimes drags Netaji into politics, sometimes he drags Sardar Patel. Is it befitting of a PM?” questioned Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, reported ANI.
Modi had inaugurated a museum and the refurbished memorial dedicated to the Indian police force on Sunday, 21 October in Delhi.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh and senior BJP leader LK Advani also paid tributes to the policemen killed in an ambush by Chinese troops in 1959 in Ladakh's Hot Spring area on National Police Memorial Day.
“It is the day to remember every jawan who maintains law and peace in Jammu and Kashmir and fights against terrorism. Jawans on duty in Naxal-affected areas are doing a great service. It's also due to them that number of Naxal-affected districts are going down and youth is coming to mainstream,” PM Modi said in his address.
During his speech, PM Modi also praised the police’s efforts to maintain peace in the nation. The day is observed to pay homage to the 10 policemen who were killed in an ambush by Chinese troops in 1959. However, CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar said that all personnel who have laid down their lives protecting the integrity of the country are remembered on this day.
The memorial, built a few years ago, has now been refurbished and the central structure has been enhanced by replacing the old rock structure.
The museum, which houses artefacts, uniform and gear of central and state police forces, is located in an underground facility within the premises of the national police memorial.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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