Atal Bihari Vaypayee had praised Indira after the 1971 war victory. Vajpayee had gone to the extent of calling her an ‘incarnation of Goddess Durga’.
NEW DELHI — The Congress on Thursday alleged that an “insecure” BJP government was negating the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s contribution to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war.
Interacting with media, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that Bangladesh attained freedom 50 years ago and the then Indira Gandhi-led Congress government played a key role in emancipating the people from the dominance of Pakistan.
“With the help of government and the army, she managed to divide Pakistan into two countries, thus bringing Bangladesh into existence. Till date, Bangladesh is grateful to Indira Gandhi and India.
“Since the time of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress has been helping the democratic countries but unfortunately, some people at the helm of affairs are attempting to wipe out her efforts and contributions,” he said.
The Indira Gandhi government had kept around 95,000 Pakistani soldiers as war prisoners for a year, which is unprecedented in the world, he added.
“When any leader from Bangladesh, especially Sheikh Hasina, visits our country, she makes it a point to recall Indira Gandhi’s contributions. Even the opposition leaders like Atal Bihari Vaypayee had praised Indira after the 1971 war victory. Vajpayee had gone to the extent of calling her an ‘incarnation of Goddess Durga’. But the Narendra Modi government is negating the contribution of Indira Gandhi and the then Congress government’s contribution,” Kharge said.
When in power, the Congress had never shied away from assisting any democracy, he asserted.
Echoing his sentiments, MP Gaurav Gogoi said if Bangladesh is celebrating its victory day, it is only because of the Congress. Undeniably, it is the achievement of the Congress and Indira Gandhi’s government which should be forgotten.
An event was organised to commemorate the day in Parliament, but nobody from the Opposition was given a chance to speak which is condemnable, he said.
“The Prime Minister’s insecurity was so obvious that during the entire programme, he did not even take the name of Indira Gandhi – the person who was instrumental in the entire exercise. Its akin to changing the history of the country,” he added.
He said before the 1971 Bangladesh war, Gandhi had reached out to the all the leaders and undertaken a 20-day worldwide tour to build consensus on the issue. She visited 24 countries and raised the issue of human rights violation in Bangladesh which was supported by Russia and opposed by America.
Despite this, a war was fought and Pakistan was divided into two countries which changed the world map. Unfortunately, the current dispensation is indulging in cheap and dirty politics, he said.
Moreover, The Congress tore into the government for skipping Indira Gandhi’s name during Vijay Diwas celebrations and termed it as “misogynist BJP Government” as it did not want to give credit to the woman who is widely credited for carving out a new nation called Bangladesh from Pakistan.
The sharpest attack came from grand daughter of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who said, “Our first and only woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi is being left out of the misogynist BJP government’s Vijay Diwas celebrations. This, on the 50th anniversary of the day that she led India to victory and liberated Bangladesh.”
Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India during the 1971 war with Pakistan.
She further said, “Narendra Modiji, women don’t believe your platitudes. Your patronising attitude is unacceptable. It’s about time you start giving women their due.”
The Congress has turned the entire episode of government not giving due credit as anti-women. The party had a year long celebrations which ended on Wednesday and on Thursday Rahul Gandhi in Dehradun felicitated the war veterans and said, “it was Indira Gandhi who ended the war with Pakistan in 13 days and liberated Bangladesh while America could not defeat Afghanistan in 20 years. But in Delhi she who took 32 bullets for the nation has been forgotten from the celebrations.”
“Remembering the martyrs and veterans of the 1971 war. India won the war to save the idea of democracy under the able leadership of Former PM Indira Gandhi ji, Jai Hind,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi. — IANS
