Foundation Day Fiasco: Congress Journal Lauds Patel, Targets Nehru

Content editor of Mumbai Cong journal Sudhir Joshi sacked after gaffe blames Nehru for state of affairs in Kashmir.

The article claims that Nehru made a mistake by ignoring Patel. (Photo Courtesy: PIB India’s Twitter page)

As the Congress celebrates its 131st Foundation Day on Monday, an article published by the party’s Mumbai unit has caused a stir as it blames Jawaharlal Nehru for the state of affairs in Kashmir, China and Tibet.

The article states that Nehru should have listened to freedom fighter and former home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s views on international affairs. The content editor of the journal, Sudhir Joshi, was later sacked for what the part called an oversight.

The article, which does not bear the name of the writer, has been published in this month’s issue of Congress Darshan – the Hindi edition of the journal – as a tribute piece to mark Patel’s death anniversary on 15 December.

<p>Despite Patel getting the post of deputy prime minister and home minister, the relations between the two leaders remained strained, and both had threatened to resign time and again.</p>

The article in the Congress magazine. (Photo: Mid-Day)

The article cites a letter that Patel reportedly wrote in 1950 to caution Nehru against China’s policy towards Tibet where “Patel described China as unfaithful, and a future enemy of India.”

<p>Had Patel been heard (by Nehru) then, the problems of Kashmir, China, Tibet and Nepal wouldn’t have existed now. Patel opposed Nehru’s move of taking the Kashmir issue to the UNO. Nehru did not agree with Patel’s views on Nepal.</p>

<p>Excerpt from the article</p>

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief and editor of the journal Sanjay Nirupam apologised for the ‘mistake’.

<p> Some words that have been used in some articles of Congress Darshan are certainly objectionable, I accept the mistake.</p>

<p>Sanjay Nirupam, Congress leader and editor of the journal</p>

(With agency inputs)