Allahabad: At a time when the Nehru-Gandhi family is facing constant criticism from the ruling BJP, several Congress leaders here feel that attacking the family members for ‘political gains’ has only ‘revived and reinforced’ their legacy.
The twin constituencies of Allahabad and Phulpur in the district will go to polls May 12 and a section of the Congress cadres in the holy city also said that ‘abuses hurled upon (Jawaharlal) Nehru’ in the past few years, has only galvanised them into fighting this election with ‘greater resolve’.
“Allahabad is the birthplace of Nehruji, his ‘janmabhoomi’ and ‘karmabhoomi’ and despite all the negative propaganda being purveyed by the BJP against him, he is still revered by a majority of people here. Nehru’s legacy is something that cannot be written away by its detractors,” said Ramji Pandey, a senior Congress leader.
Pandey rued that Allahabad city’s ‘pluralistic essence’ was getting ‘diminished’. He alleged it was due to ‘communal forces’ rearing its head again in the country.
“They (BJP) think that by wrongfully criticising and attacking Nehruji, Indira (Gandhi) ji or Rajiv (Gandhi) ji, they will be able to dent our morale. But, we thank Prime Minister (Narendra) Modiji and other BJP leaders for criticising them. Because, the more they do it, the more it reinforces their legacy, in Allahabad or elsewhere,” Pandey added.
Shahshi Kant Triparthi, another senior Congress leader from Allahabad, said, old-timers from the party and young members converge at city’s famous Coffee House to discuss politics, and Nehru legacy is being now being discussed by the youth party members after hearing so much criticism of him.
“We know Nehru’s legacy and the vision he had for India, a secular, prosperous nation with all-round development. But, many young party members or new entrants from the current generation, did not know much about the first Prime Minister, his personal life in Allahabad, but now they are reading, in books or online, thanks to Modiji,” said Triparthi.
Allahabad is considered the ‘Mecca of politics’, a holy town by virtue of confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, and a city of great intellectuals. From the Coffee House here to Allahabad University, and bank managers to rickshaw-wallahas, almost every Allahabadi has an opinion on politics.
Senior Congress leader Abhay Awasthi is also not fazed by all the criticism his party and Nehru-Gandhi family is facing from the ruling BJP, over the years and especially in this election, when Modi has trained his guns at Rajiv Gandhi as well.
“Allahabad is birthplace of two PMs – Nehru and Indira. It gave two more PMs from elections – Lal Bahadur Shahstri and VP Singh, besides other political stalwarts. People here still understand the nuances of politics and so cannot be fooled easily, though caste equations have become one of the major factors lately,” Awasthi said.
While Nehru family’s legacy is preserved in Anand Bhawan and Indira Gandhi’s birthplace is Swaraj Bhawan, the local Congress cadres feel enthused that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has joined politics and is taking the party forward.
“Gauging the crowd her roadshows is attracting everywhere, we feel happy that Priyanka Gandhi has actively joined politics and her presence has injected fresh energy among the young cadres particularly. And, she hits back at BJP,” said Pandey.
