Senior BJP leader and former minister lalji Tandon courted controversy over his book ‘Ankaha lucknow’ which was recently released by Vice-president Venkiah Naidu.
Samajwadi Party leader and president of Baudhik Sabha, Deepak Mishra on Friday alleged that Tandon has twisted history in his book to malign the image of Bharat Ratna and former chief minister of UP, Pandit Govind Ballav Pant.
Demanding an unconditional apology from the BJP leader for attempting to insult a patriot, Mishra said that Tandon’s act was condemnable. In a statement issued on Friday, Mishra said that in para2 of page number-189, Tandon said that Pantjee did not fight the case of Kakori freedom fighters as they did not pay him Rs 100 as fee.
“Such an incident never happened and it was just a figment of imagination of the BJP leader to insult the great Indian patriot,” he charged. Mishra further said that Pantjee was the first Chief Minister of UP and this reference was an insult to the state too.
“In fact Pandit Govind Vallab Pant was among a battery of lawyers fighting the Kakori case and Pantjee was enrolled as a junior of Pandit Moti lal Nehru. Besides fighting the case, Pantje, fought the case out-of-the-court when he appealed to the British government to minimise the punishment,” he said.
A placard at the GPO in lucknow too has inscribed that Pantjee had fought the case of Kakori freedom fighters free of cost.
Mishra further said that those who attended the unveiling of the book in lucknow in May, including the Vice-president, Governor, Chief Minister and Assembly Speaker, too should tender apology.