Speaking in Jaipur on 10 October 2024, BJP leader Madan Rathore argued that it is inappropriate to condemn Sanjay Gandhi after his death, especially when the political system he helped shape continued to be followed by Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi during their lifetimes.
Rathore made the remarks in response to passages in Sonia Gandhi's memoir that reference Sanjay Gandhi, as well as comments from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge linking a Hindu festival to Eid. He described Kharge's statements as lacking sensitivity toward religious sentiments and suggested that the congress leader should have confined his remarks to the specific context rather than appearing to appease a particular community.
Taking the criticism further, Rathore questioned the relevance of Kharge's remarks given the alleged hardships faced by Kharge's own family, labeling the congress chief's observations as inconsistent and controversial.
Regarding the Emergency, Rathore maintained that the period was a collective decision of the Indira Gandhi family and characterised it as one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history. He accused Indira Gandhi of undermining democratic institutions, curbing press freedom and enforcing forced sterilisation, while also noting that individuals chanting slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” were imprisoned.
Rathore underscored the contradiction in holding Sanjay Gandhi responsible for the Emergency after the fact, pointing out that the same governance model he helped establish was adhered to by his mother and successors while he was alive. He warned that attributing the entire decision‑making process to a single individual raises serious doubts about Indira Gandhi's own leadership, as she remained the prime minister at the time.
In summary, Rathore called for a balanced assessment of Sanjay Gandhi's legacy, insisting that posthumous criticism should not be used to rewrite history when the political framework associated with him persisted throughout his family's tenure in power.
Image: mangalorean.com
📰 Source: Mangalorean News