Skewed vision of India’s history being imposed: Sonia Gandhi

Sonia said the former Prime Minister was deeply conscious of India’s many diversities and profoundly sensitive to its cultural traditions. “She was fiercely wedded to strengthening the bonds of political and cultural unity. She believed in accommodating, respecting and celebrating our many diversities. She also recognised that without just economic and social policies that actively promoted equity and inclusiveness, India could not develop and prosper. Her vision of national integration was all-encompassing, helping the disadvantaged, and ensuring that no section of Indian society was excluded on the basis of caste or creed,” Sonia said.

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“The fundamental assumptions that guided our freedom struggle and inspired our country after independence are now being called into question. Today, we see rising intolerance, rising violence. A skewed vision of our history and society is being imposed along with falsehood and unscientific ideas. All this is the antithesis of the liberal, secular and democratic foundations of our country,” she added.

Speaking on the occasion, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Bhatt’s entire life has been dedicated to public causes. “This is the year when we are celebrating Gandhi ji’s 150th birth centenary. And I am inclined to believe that the Mahatma would be pleased that this year the award is going to a man who made us take note of the incipient crisis of climate change,” he said.