Hyderabad: Telangana Congress Loyalists Forum on Thursday condemned the attempts of the BJP and RSS to author ‘alternative history’ to misinform the present generation, who are being led to question Pandit Nehru’s contributions.
Speaking to mediapersons here today, Marri Shasidhar Reddy, former Vice-Chairman, NMDA, said during the debate in Parliament on Abrogation of Article 370 and Kashmir Reorganisation Bills, an attempt was made to portray as if there were differences between first Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru and then Home Minister late Sardar Patel. They strongly condemned the attempts made by the BJP to blame Pandit Nehru for inclusion of 370.
Shasidhar Reddy said those questioning Art 370 and who was responsible for it should first brush up their knowledge of history and not make statements to distort it. At the time of independence, integration of over 500 princely States into Indiam Union was a big challenge, which was handled deftly by Sardar Patel.
Coming to the issue of Kashmir’s accession to India, it became imperative to assure the people of J&K that steps would be taken to protect their culture, their rights and aspirations and Art 370 was the way out. Had it not been for this, Kashmir becoming an integral part of India would have been a big question mark as Pakistan was hoping to make Kashmir their territory. “We can create confidence in the minds of the Kashmiri people and hence Art 370 was the only way out. It was a very considered decision by the Indian government of which Sardar Patel was the Home Minister. Blaming Jawaharlal Nehru is a part of BJP’s strategy to defame a leader, who is held in high esteem not only in India but the world over, to mislead people of the country”.
The Congress Loyalists Forum leaders said Nehru made immense contribution to India’s independence and was the torchbearer of the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. He spent more time in jail during those days than any other prominent leader, imprisoned nine times spending 3259 days ie over 9 years in prison.
The TCLF leaders Sambani Chandrasekhar, former minister, M. Kodanda Reddy, Vice-Chairman, AICC Kisan Congress, B. Kamalakar Rao, former MLC, T. Nagaiah, vice-president, TPCC, Dr P. Vinay Kumar, Vice- Chairman, AICC OBC Department, A. Shyam Mohan, Chairman, TPCC Intellectual Cell, and G. Niranjan, former chairman, AP Khadi & Village Industries Board were also present. (NSS)