New Delhi: The Congress on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to “deny, denigrate, distort and demonise” Jawaharlal Nehru’s immense contributions to modern India, asserting that the legacy of the country’s first prime minister “must and will endure” despite such “assaults.”
The party said those intent on erasing Nehru from 20th-century Indian history are only revealing their “deep insecurities and complexes.” The criticism came on Nehru’s 136th birth anniversary. Born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, Nehru was a central figure in India’s freedom movement and served as prime minister until his death on May 27, 1964.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi paid floral tributes at Nehru’s memorial at Shanti Van. Kharge hailed Nehru’s legacy as a “timeless beacon” that continues to illuminate the idea of India, grounded in freedom, democracy, secularism and scientific temper. He also conveyed Children’s Day greetings, calling young people the “future of the nation.”
Rahul Gandhi said Nehru’s visionary and courageous leadership laid the foundation of India’s constitutional and democratic values and set the country on a new path. “His ideals continue to inspire us even today,” he wrote in Hindi on X, saluting “Hind ke Jawahar.”
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh launched a sharp attack on the government, saying Nehru’s global resonance remains strong even as efforts are made to diminish his role in shaping modern India. He expressed confidence that Nehru’s legacy would withstand these attempts.
Ramesh also noted that when Nehru turned 60 in 1949, a comprehensive Abhinandan Granth with introductions by Rajaji and Sardar Patel was presented to him, describing it as still “inspirational reading.” He added that the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund’s digital archive is expected to go live soon.
From its official handle, the Congress paid “heartfelt tributes” to Nehru, calling him the visionary architect of modern India whose ideals of democracy, secularism and scientific temper continue to guide the nation’s progress.
