In an open letter to former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, his nephew Shrikrishna Kulkarni wrote:
I saw with dismay the TV images of you, going to file your nomination for the Vice President — flanked by this family of dynastic politics.
Criticising Gandhi for agreeing to represent the Congress-led Opposition in the upcoming Vice Presidential election, Kulkarni also reflected upon the “present-day Gandhi family” saying that they “re-institutionalised dynastic succession.” Kulkarni said, without naming Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, as quoted in an Indian Express report:
Present Congress President has been in position for the past 18 years since 1998. Her son (5th generation of Nehru dynasty, starting from Motilal Nehru) is in line for succession.
Kulkarni invoked Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar in his protest against his uncle’s candidature. To that end, Kulkarni said that neither the Mahatma nor Ambedkar were in favour of “entitlements due to birth.”
Kulkarni said in the letter to Gopalkrishna Gandhi:
In that one instant (when you filed your nomination), you tore apart the principles you espouse — those of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
Moreover, Gandhi’s nephew also called him out on his alleged silence on various “scams” by Congress leaders. Kulkarni said in the letter:
So many scandals over so many years, and not a single comment from you. Do you really believe all these are political vendetta?... But you still went ahead and endorsed them. As one small member of Gandhi ji’s large family, I must register my protest. Therefore I say — Not in Gandhi ji’s name.
You can read the open letter here:
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
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