‘Nehru Did a Lot, But Did Not Possess Arrogance’: Kharge on I-Day

As India marked its 80th Independence Day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge delivered a scathing critique of the BJP-led government’s tendency to claim credit for past achievements. His speech from the Red Fort invoked Jawaharlal Nehru and other Congress stalwarts to highlight their contributions and underscore the party’s dominant role in India’s nation-building journey.

Kharge carried weight when he recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s “Do or Die” call during the Quit India Movement, a poignant reminder that India’s freedom struggle envisioned more than just independence from colonial rule. It aimed to eradicate poverty, unemployment, untouchability, injustice, and fear – a broader vision that has guided Congress’s approach to governance throughout its history.

Kharge’s criticism of the BJP-led government’s attempts to rewrite history was thinly veiled. By crediting themselves for achievements that are actually the result of Congress’s hard work and vision, the ruling party is politicizing praise and undermining India’s democratic institutions.

Congress has been at the forefront of many key initiatives, including establishing IITs and IIMs, strengthening India’s agricultural and military capabilities. The data backs up Kharge’s claim: these developments are a testament to Congress’s enduring legacy in shaping India’s progress.

The government’s handling of youth grievances is another area where Kharge’s words hit home. Protests by young Indians are not anti-national; they are a cry for opportunities, a demand for a better future. By meting out hostility and hate campaigns against these protesters, the government betrays the very spirit of democracy that India fought so hard to achieve.

Kharge’s speech highlighted the Congress party’s commitment to fighting for the poor and marginalized. He accused the BJP-RSS combine of dividing Hindus and Muslims, a charge that has been leveled against them before. Kharge emphasized spreading love and tolerance in stark contrast to the hate-filled rhetoric often characteristic of the ruling party’s approach.

As India looks to the future, it would do well to remember Jawaharlal Nehru’s words: “I have done nothing but what I thought was my duty.” Despite his many accomplishments, Nehru never claimed credit for himself alone. He recognized that true greatness lies not in individual achievement but in the collective effort to build a better nation.

The BJP-led government would do well to learn from this lesson and recognize the debt they owe to Congress’s vision and leadership. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether India continues down the path of divisive politics or returns to its democratic roots, as Kharge said: “This will not go on for long.”