Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has launched a sharp political offensive, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a "targeted project" aimed at destroying the legacy of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Her fiery remarks, made on December 6, 2025, come as a direct response to recent comments by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concerning the Babri Masjid.
The Spark: Rajnath Singh's Babri Masjid Claim
The political skirmish was ignited when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a claim about Nehru's role in the Babri Masjid issue. Singh alleged that Nehru had attempted to use public funds for the maintenance of the Babri Masjid, a move that was reportedly stalled by the country's first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This historical assertion set the stage for a renewed war of words over the interpretation of India's post-independence history.
Sonia Gandhi's Forceful Rebuttal
In her counterattack, Sonia Gandhi did not mince words. She accused the ruling BJP of systematically promoting distortion, defamation, and a selective reading of history to undermine Nehru's monumental contributions to the nation. She argued that these attacks stem from an ideological standpoint that had no connection to India's freedom struggle.
"The attacks on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru arise from an ideology that was unrelated to our freedom struggles," she stated, holding this ideology responsible for deepening societal divides in the years following Independence. Her defense positioned Nehru as a foundational figure whose vision is being deliberately maligned for contemporary political gain.
A Broader Debate: Governance vs. History Wars
This exchange has triggered a significant debate within India's political discourse. Analysts are questioning whether the nation's political battles are undergoing a fundamental shift. The focus, they argue, appears to be moving away from debates on current governance and future policy and towards fierce fights over the interpretation of the past.
The controversy highlights a deep ideological chasm. On one side is the Congress's defense of the Nehruvian secular, socialist framework that shaped modern India. On the other is the BJP's nationalist narrative, which often revisits historical events and figures to critique what it views as the errors of previous Congress-led governments.
This incident is not an isolated one but part of a recurring pattern where historical figures like Nehru, Patel, and others become central symbols in today's political identity wars. The outcome of this debate has real implications for how India views its foundation and charts its future course.
