The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a fierce political assault on India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, centering on the reconstruction of the iconic Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The party accused Nehru of harbouring "the greatest hatred towards Lord Somnath" in independent India.
Letters Reveal Nehru's Opposition to Temple Restoration
In a detailed thread on social media platform X, BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi presented a series of historical letters to substantiate his claims. Trivedi asserted that Nehru actively worked against the restoration of the temple, which had been plundered historically by invaders like Mahmud of Ghazni and Alauddin Khilji.
The MP highlighted a specific letter dated April 21, 1951, written by Nehru to Pakistan's then Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. In it, Nehru reportedly addressed Khan as "Dear Nawabzada" and dismissed narratives about Somnath's doors as "completely false." Trivedi interpreted this as a act of surrender and external appeasement, where Nehru allegedly prioritised Pakistan's sentiments and India's international image over the nation's civilisational and religious symbolism.
Allegations of Internal Dissuasion and Media Control
Beyond correspondence with Pakistan, Trivedi cited multiple instances where Nehru reportedly tried to downplay the temple's significance domestically. According to the BJP leader, Nehru wrote to his own cabinet ministers, President Dr Rajendra Prasad, and Vice President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, questioning the need for reconstruction and advising against their participation in the inauguration ceremony.
Trivedi further claimed that Nehru's efforts extended to controlling public perception. He allegedly wrote twice to all Chief Ministers of India, complaining that the temple's construction was damaging India's image abroad. Instructions were also purportedly sent to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, RR Diwakar, to reduce media coverage of the consecration ceremony, labelling it as "ostentatious."
Nehru also instructed Indian embassies not to assist the Somnath Trust, even in simple matters like procuring water from holy rivers for the rituals, the BJP MP added.
Political Timing Amidst Somnath Celebrations
This sharp historical critique comes against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to the Somnath Temple on January 11. The PM is set to participate in the 'Somnath Swabhiman Parv' celebrations, a four-day event from January 8 to January 11 dedicated to highlighting India's spiritual heritage and cultural pride.
The BJP's attack frames Nehru's actions as a choice of "external appeasement over internal self-confidence," directly contrasting it with the current government's emphasis on reclaiming and celebrating India's civilisational legacy. The episode is likely to reignite debates over historical interpretation and the political use of symbolism in contemporary India.
