Author: Smitha Nair
Publication: IBNLive.com
Date: August 3, 2007
URL: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/patil-called-sycophant-for-glorifying-nehrugandhi/46146-3.html?xml
Pratibha Patil is a first-timer in a lot of
ways. After a spate of controversies, she became the first woman President
of the India. And now her first address to the nation has also stirred a debate.
On Thursday, President Pratibha Patil spoke
at length about Nehru-Gandhi family's contributions to India's freedom struggle
in her speech. However, she did not mention a word about the Left revolutionaries,
inviting ire of the Left Bloc, that alleges Patil's reference only to members
of the Gandhi family smacks of sycophancy.
Left front constituent Forward Bloc has shot
off a letter to Patil questioning why Left revolutionaries were ignored in
her speech. The party says the Congress is appropriating history and the president
has intentionally ignored left revolutionaries.
"She made it sound as if the freedom
struggle belongs to one party or only the Nehru family. She intentionally
forgot to mention Bose," said Forward Bloc leader Devarajan.
The Congress having done enough firefighting
for Mrs Patil refused to join issue.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan
Das Munshi said, "Congress never ignores the people involved in freedom
struggle, that's why we are celebrating the 150 years of 1857."
The party also alleges that in the 150 th
anniversary celebrations of the first war of independence, revolutionaries
are being deliberately ignored and it is in fact an attempt to rewrite the
history.
"Whenever the Congress comes to power
they try to appropriate history," said Forward Bloc Leader Devarajan.
Overshadowed by big brother CPI(M), Netaji
remains the only USP for the Forward Bloc. Whenever the party gets the slightest
of their leader being ignored, they pounce upon the political opportunity.
