Manohar Lal Khattar Calls Nehru ‘Accidental PM,’ Sparks Congress Backlash

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s recent comments about Jawaharlal Nehru have sparked a political controversy.

During a speech on Sunday, Khattar claimed that Nehru became India’s first prime minister “by accident” and that others, like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, were more deserving of the post.

This assertion has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders, further intensifying the political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

Khattar’s Remarks on Nehru’s Premiership

While addressing a gathering at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana, Khattar said, “I want to say that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became a prime minister by accident. In his place, someone who deserved it (to become India’s first PM) was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.”

This statement immediately drew the ire of Congress leaders, with many challenging Khattar’s interpretation of India’s post-independence leadership.

Congress’s Response: An Accidental Chief Minister?

The comment was met with a sharp rebuttal from Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Hooda responded by stating, “He himself became an accidental chief minister and that’s why he is talking like this.”

This remark was a pointed counter to Khattar’s criticism of Nehru, with Hooda implying that Khattar’s own rise to political power had not been entirely by merit, making his criticism of Nehru unfounded.

Rising Tensions: Border Policies and Political Fallout

Khattar’s comments on Nehru come at a time when the Congress and BJP are already engaged in a heated dispute over border issues.

Recently, Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of allowing China to occupy Indian territory after Beijing announced new administrative changes in regions such as Ladakh.

The BJP, however, retorted by reminding Congress that their own leadership failed to defend Indian territory during Nehru’s time.

BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya suggested that Congress had no right to criticize the current government on Chinese encroachments, given the failure of Nehru’s leadership in the past.

Chinese Border Dispute: Recent Developments

The remarks from both parties coincided with heightened tensions over the Sino-Indian border. In early January, China announced the creation of two new counties in the Hotan region, which included parts of Ladakh.

This move was strongly condemned by India, which lodged a formal protest through its Ministry of External Affairs. The timing of the announcement was notable, as it came just days after China and India resumed boundary talks after nearly five years of hiatus.

The new counties, especially He’an County, overlap with the Aksai Chin region, an area that India claims as part of its territory but which China has occupied since the 1962 war.

Khattar Honors Ambedkar’s Legacy

In his speech, Khattar also praised the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, highlighting the BJP’s efforts in recognizing his contributions to India’s Constitution.

Khattar noted that the Constitution is revered as a “sacred text” and stressed the importance of remembering Ambedkar’s role in shaping it.

He also pointed out that under the current government, significant steps had been taken to honor Ambedkar, including the creation of five holy places dedicated to him.

The Political Divide on Nehru’s Legacy

This is not the first time that BJP leaders have taken aim at Jawaharlal Nehru. Last month, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticized Nehru for his treatment of Ambedkar and claimed that Nehru had been opposed to Ambedkar’s inclusion in the Constitution’s Drafting Committee.

These comments were part of a broader BJP narrative questioning Nehru’s leadership, especially regarding the contributions of other key figures like Sardar Patel and Ambedkar.

Congress Hits Back: Accusations of Distortion

In response to these growing attacks, Congress leaders have also struck back. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge recently accused Prime Minister Modi of distorting facts regarding Nehru’s legacy, particularly concerning the first amendment to the Constitution.

Kharge demanded an apology from Modi for allegedly misleading the country about the reasons behind the amendment, which had introduced reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Kharge also criticized Modi’s claims regarding constitutional amendments made by the Constituent Assembly, stating that the amendments were not solely Nehru’s doing but involved contributions from a broader political spectrum.