Twitterati on Thursday had a refresher course on “historical facts” and claims pertaining to the Marathas, the Holkars, the British and Rani Jhansi, when Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh engaged in a war of words over the historical role of the Scindias in 1857.
While both took swipes at each other over their politics and ideology throughout the day, references to books like The Discovery of India’, poems by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan caught the attention of people on the micro-blogging site with Twitterati doing a Google “search” to post, share and lash out at the leaders and their parties.
It all started with Scindia’s scathing criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress at a BJP press conference on Wednesday.
Ramesh hit back at Scindia with a “traitor” barb and asked the Minister if he had forgotten Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s immortal poem on the Rani of Jhansi.
In the poem, the Scindias are referred to as the friends of the British. Hitting back at Ramesh, Scindia said, “Read history more, rather than poetry”.
Scindia said such statements clearly show how much dignity and ideology is left in the Congress. “You are devoted to yourself anyway; your politics is alive on this. Me and my family have always been answerable to the public,” Scindia said.
Scindia was in the Congress for a long time and was considered a close associate of the Gandhis. He quit the party and joined the BJP in 2020 following differences with its leadership, especially in his home State Madhya Pradesh, leading to the fall of the Kamal Nath-led Government.
Scindia also posted excerpts from Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Glimpses of World History” which read, “Thus they (Marathas) had practically inherited the Delhi Empire. The Marathas remained to challenge British supremacy.
But the Maratha power went to pieces after the death of Mahadji Scindia.”
“The Marathas defeated the British in the South in 1782. In the north, Scindia of Gwalior was dominant and controlled the poor hapless Emperor of Delhi,” another excerpt cited by Scindia read.
Tagging his tweets, Ramesh retorted, “Pick up any history book and all historians are unanimous on the issue of betrayal of Rani Jhansi in 1857.” “Your new god Savarkar has also mentioned Scindia’s betrayal of Rani Laxmibai, Tatya Tope and others in his book,” he said, asking Scindia to “read history”.
Ramesh also tagged a tweet which showed an old video of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in which he had said that the Scindias had helped the British and betrayed Rani Laxmibai.
Slamming Ramesh, Scindia said, “Ever read the book ‘Operation Red Lotus’ written by Parag Tope, a descendant of the brave martyr Tatya Tope of 1857; It will be known how we Marathas - Scindia, Peshwa and Newalkar of Jhansi were together against the British. Marathas are still one. Please stop this ‘divisive’ politics.”
On Wednesday, Scindia had attacked the Congress for according Rahul Gandhi “special treatment” following his conviction in a defamation case and accused the party of pressuring the judiciary and doing everything possible to stay relevant.
Slamming Scindia for his remarks, Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera said, “When Mr. Scindia talks about doing things to stay politically relevant, I can think of his own example. To stay politically relevant he changed his party, he changed his friends, he changed his loyalties and he is giving us a lecture on how to stay politically relevant.”