BJP hits out at Congress
New Delhi, September 21: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Congress over recent remarks by former Vice President Hamid Ansari in which he referred to a statement attributed to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters on Monday, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that the remarks highlighted what he described as the Congress’ current ideological direction.Ansari had referred to A.G. Noorani’s 2019 book The RSS: A Menace to India while discussing Nehru’s reported views on the perceived threats to India. According to reports, Ansari cited Nehru as saying that the greater danger was not communism but Hindu right-wing communalism.
Trivedi alleges Congress has moved Left
Trivedi claimed that the reference to the 2019 book raised questions about the ideological position of the Congress today.He alleged that the party has moved towards the Left and is increasingly influenced by communist ideology. Trivedi also sought to connect Ansari’s remarks with what he described as the broader ideological outlook of the Congress.
What is the Nehru reference?
The controversy centres on the historical observation cited by Ansari from Noorani’s book. Reports say Ansari attributed the observation to Nehru and said it had been recorded by former Foreign Secretary Jagat Singh Gundevia during a meeting of Ministry of External Affairs officials.The BJP has used the reference to question the Congress’ present ideological direction. Ansari’s original remarks, however, were made in the context of a discussion on Nehru’s reported views and the historical debate surrounding communal politics and civic nationalism.The issue has added to the ongoing political debate between the BJP and Congress over ideology and the interpretation of Nehru’s political legacy.
