Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that there could be disagreements with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s policies, but his integrity could not be doubted.
Mr. Singh was speaking at the inaugural function of the 125th birth anniversary commemoration of Nehru at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library.
“Nehru trusted the intelligence of the people and hence promoted democracy. People considered Indian democracy as one for the elite and thought that only one family can rule this country. But it is in this very Indian democracy that an ordinary vote is powerful enough to make a tea-seller the Prime Minister. We don’t agree with his policy on Jammu and Kashmir and many disagree with his China policy. But he was the primary force behind the Non-Aligned Movement,” Mr. Singh said.
We remember Pandit Nehru's efforts during the freedom struggle and his role as the first Prime Minister of India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) >November 14, 2014
Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) Mahesh Sharma also took a dig at dynastic rule. “This Rashtrapurush (Man of the Nation) is not the heritage of any family or dynasty. Mr. Modi has decided to celebrate a whole year to commemorate Nehru’s birth anniversary. He is still an inspiration to all citizens. Nehru Memorial Museum & Library Director (Mahesh Rangarajan) informed me that our country’s first Council of Ministers had six non-Congressmen.”
Mr. Sharma added that Rs. 20 crore had been sanctioned for the commemoration in 2014-2015.
Mr. Singh launched the Nehru portal, which hosts the first 15 volumes of the former Prime Minister’s collected works and other archival material. He also released two commemorative coins. He praised Nehru for ‘enlisting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’ in the Integrated Food Production Programme in 1950 and allowing it to march in the 1963 Republic Day Parade.
“Nehru did not oppose any economic ideology. He agreed with socialist and communist ideologies but understood their limitations. He found the mixed economy as an ideal policy. I unequivocally call him a Rashtrapurush and all his works must be studied holistically. All his papers should be collected and the Public Records Rules of 1997 make this possible,” Mr. Singh said.
From Brisbane, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Tributes to Nehru. We remember Pandit Nehru’s efforts during the freedom struggle and his role as the first Prime Minister of India.”
