Party serves notice on MP for swipe at Gandhi’s freedom struggle; Congress seeks PM’s reply
As controversial BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde kicked up a row yet again, this time describing the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi as a “staged drama” and “adjustment” with the British, the Congress on Monday demanded that the Prime Minister should come to Parliament to clarify his position on the former Union Minister’s “disparaging” remarks.
The Congress also demanded a case of sedition against Hegde, whose swipe at Mahatma Gandhi has irked the BJP leadership.
The BJP has issued a show-cause notice to Hegde and asked him to tender an unconditional apology, sources said. The five-time BJP MP is known for hardline Hindutva leanings and has a history of making controversial remarks, only to embarrass the party. The Congress asserted it was time for Modi to prove whether his loyalty is towards Gandhi or his assassin Nathuram Godse.
“They are disparaging the national movement. If the PM and the BJP Government are sincere about the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, we demand that the PM comes to Parliament and clarifies his position,” Congress’s senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said at a Press conference.
Sharma said there could not be a greater insult to India’s national movement and those who sacrificed everything to give the country freedom. “The PM and the BJP leadership as a whole has to apologise for these things,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted, saying, “Anantkumar Hegde is perhaps reflecting the views of his masters. If he is not, his comments should invite the strictest possible action from his party.”
A senior BJP leader said the Karnataka leader’s comments were “condemnable” and the party leadership is upset with him. “The party has conveyed its displeasure to him and asked him to take remedial measure. Any insult to Mahatma Gandhi is unacceptable,” he said.
Hegde reportedly claimed at an event in Bangaluru that the entire freedom movement was staged with the consent and support of the British, and the independence movement led by Gandhi was a “drama”. He also wondered why the Father of the Nation was called ‘Mahatma’ (a great soul).