The Congress on Thursday said that the party saw nothing wrong in the Centre’s decision to delink itself from the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s.
AICC General Secretary Ajay Maken said that the idea was mooted by his party chief Sonia Gandhi two years ago when she had suggested that there should be only anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and all other such events should be handled by concerned political parties.
Maken said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a step in that direction and thus the party has nothing more to say on this issue. “In August 2012, Congress President had herself written a letter to then Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) saying that among the various leaders for whom the birth and death anniversaries are (celebrated or observed), the government should celebrate or organise only for Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat,” Maken said.
Maken mentioned that Indira Gandhi cannot be overshadowed. “No one can overshadow anyone’s legacy. Both Sardar Patel and Indira Gandhi, on their own, have contributed to the country which the country can never forget. No single leader, no single Government can ever make people forget the legacy and contribution of any such great leaders,” Maken said at AICC briefing.
The government has decided that it will associate only with the birth and death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.The anniversaries of other departed leaders may be observed by respective trusts, parties, societies or supporters.The development comes after former Union Msinister Shashi Tharoor attacked the government for “ignoring the martyrdom” of Indira Gandhi.”Disgraceful that Govt is ignoring the martyrdom of our only Prime Minister who was killed in office in the line of duty. Oct 31 forgotten,” tweeted Tharoor, who has otherwise been praising Modi for his Swachh Bharat campaign.
The Modi government has declared October 31 as “Rashtriya Ekta Diwas” (National Unity Day) to mark the birth anniversary of country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. There was no mention of Indira Gandhi in the government announcement though it is also the death anniversary of the former Prime Minister who was shot dead by her bodyguards in 1984.