This refers to the article, “Old malaise survives as dynasty” (July 8) by JS Rajput. The information about Jawaharlal Nehru attempting to dissuade Rajendra Prasad from becoming a presidential candidate was not first revealed by the retired intelligence officer RNP Singh in his memoirs. This information had been published in The Pioneer by Ashoka Jahnavi Prasad in one of his articles, in which he had cited Tara Sinha’s book, Rajendra Babu: Patron ke Ainey Mein.
It is also important to point out that Nehru had asked Prasad not to attend Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s funeral, but the President had ignored that advice. later, when Prasad died, Nehru again advised President S Radhakrishnan not to attend his funeral. The President ignored that advice.