With the Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, the season of election pandering and slandering is in full swing.
One such onslaught was launched by Uttar Pradesh Minority Affairs Minister Mohsin Raza on Monday, 21 January, when he alleged that Congress President Rahul Gandhi does not visit his grandfather Feroze Gandhi’s grave in Prayagraj because “he belonged to a minority community”.
Raza paid a surprise visit to the grave on Monday, speaking about the government’s plans to spruce up the grave.
Speaking to India Today, Raza said, "Feroze was a renowned journalist, politician and freedom fighter. His contribution to the country's Independence was also very important but now nobody visits his grave. His grandson Rahul has no time to visit here (his grave in Prayagraj). Feroze has been neglected for belonging to a minority community."
‘Forgotten Gandhi’
"We (BJP government) are not using this matter as a political issue. In fact, it's quite evident from the atmosphere here. This place (Feroze's grave) is completely deserted. People don't even know where the veteran politician was buried. We want Rahul Gandhi to show some respect for his grandfather and visit his grave at least once," Raza added, as per the India Today report.
A DNA report quoted Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma echoing similar views while inviting Rahul for the Kumbh Mela. He had asked Rahul to visit Feroze’s grave and to “pray for the soul of this forgotten Gandhi”.
The report also claimed that Gandhi had not visited the grave since 2011.
Following Sharma’s comments, the Uttar Pradesh government announced plans to refurbish the 'ignored’ grave located at the Parsi cemetery in Prayagraj’s Mumfordganj.
Hindustan Times reported that some BJP leaders had admitted to talks of playing up the issue in public meetings, in and around Prayagraj, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Congress Denounce Claims
Congress’ Kishore Varshneya dismissed BJP’s claims and said that the party members visit the grave each year on the leader’s birth and death anniversaries.
Varshneya, however, did slam the local administration for neglecting other graves at the cemetery, as per the Hindustan Times report. He said that the graveyard has been neglected ever since the Congress lost power in UP in 1989. “Despite repeated reminders to the local administration, this graveyard has remained neglected,” he said.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)