Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a historical statement concerning Nehru and Sardar Patel regarding the Babri Masjid. The Congress termed it misleading and accused the BJP of distorting history. The BJP cited Maniben Patel's diary in support.
New Delhi: A statement by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has heated up the country's politics. The Congress has bly protested against it, accusing the BJP of distorting history. The statement's issue arose when Rajnath Singh, at an event related to Sardar Patel in Vadodara, claimed that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, wanted to repair the Babri Masjid using government funds. According to him, Sardar Patel opposed this proposal, clearly stating that government money could not be used for the religious site of one particular religion.
What Rajnath Singh Said
Speaking at the event, Rajnath Singh stated that Nehru wanted government treasury funds to be used for the renovation of the Babri Masjid. However, Sardar Patel did not agree with this idea. According to Rajnath Singh, when Nehru cited the example of the Somnath Temple, Patel clearly said that the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple was happening through donations made by the people, not with government money.
Rajnath Singh further said that the grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya has also been built with public contributions, and this is true secularism. He claimed that Sardar Patel's daughter, Maniben Patel, had recorded the entire incident in her diary. Based on this, he described his statement as a historical fact.
Strong Opposition from Congress
The Congress's reaction to Rajnath Singh's remarks was extremely sharp. The party termed it false and misleading. Congress leaders stated that the BJP is continuously presenting history according to its own narrative and distorting the truth.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore sarcastically remarked that he did not expect Rajnath Singh to also study history from “WhatsApp University”. Tagore stated that the sole purpose of such statements is to spread confusion in society and gain political advantage.
BJP's Counterattack
The BJP also gave a b response to the Congress's accusations. Party MP Sudhanshu Trivedi advised Congress leaders to read history properly. He stated that what Rajnath Singh had said is recorded in the documents of Sardar Patel's family.
Trivedi cited Maniben Patel's diary, stating that page number 24 mentions that conversation related to the Babri Masjid. He said that Congress leaders should at least read the history of their own ancestors correctly so as not to try and spread confusion.
Reference to Maniben Patel's Diary
According to the BJP, Maniben Patel's private diary mentions that Nehru had spoken about government aid for the repair of the Babri Masjid. The diary also records that Patel had clearly stated that government money could not be used for a religious structure of any single religion.
Mention of Old Controversies
The BJP further stated that the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the subsequent process of building the Ram Temple are now part of history. Party leaders said that when the Supreme Court ruled on the Ayodhya dispute, the sentiments of all communities were taken into account. They added that such sensitive incidents should not be used for provocation.
The BJP alleges that some people deliberately rake up old issues to create tension in society. According to the party, such disputes spoil the atmosphere of society and have no purpose other than political gain.
