Nehru memorial renaming: Cong calls it ‘petty’, says can’t deny first PM’s role; BJP counters, ‘look beyond dynasty’

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said it shows “the low mentality and dictatorial attitude” of the BJP and the RSS, and that they could never undermine the contribution of Nehru.

“Those who do not have any history, they are erasing the history of others,” Kharge tweeted in Hindi, adding, “The ill-fated attempt to change the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library cannot belittle the personality of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India and fearless guardian of democracy… The petty thinking of the (Narendra) Modi government cannot reduce the huge contribution of ‘Hind ke Jawahar’ towards India.”

जिनका कोई इतिहास ही नहीं है, वो दूसरों के इतिहास को मिटाने चले हैं !

Nehru Memorial Museum & Library का नाम बदलने के कुत्सित प्रयास से, आधुनिक भारत के शिल्पकार व लोकतंत्र के निर्भीक प्रहरी, पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू जी की शख़्सियत को कम नहीं किया जा सकता।

इससे केवल BJP-RSS की ओछी…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 16, 2023

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “Pettiness and vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books and archives… What won’t Mr Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name and legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru.”

Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort,…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2023

Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said Teen Murti Bhavan is a historic monument where India’s destiny was crafted. He tweeted, “India’s every success is achieved on the foundation of Nehru ji’s vision. India knows that, and removing his name from a museum will not change the revered stature that Nehru ji enjoys in every Indian’s heart.”

The Teen Murti Bhavan is a historic monument where India's destiny was crafted. The architect of India's post-independence glory was our first PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

Erasing his legacy by changing the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library is a petty act, which only further…

— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) June 16, 2023

Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said the NMML could easily have been renamed the Nehru Memorial Prime Ministers’ Museum to be all-inclusive, without seeming to demean the original. “There’s some value in respecting the past. One day, today’s rulers will also be history, and they will want to receive the respect they shamefully deny their predecessors,” said Tharoor.

Congress MP Manish Tewari tweeted: “I wish those who want to erase Jawahar Lal Nehru’s contribution to freedom struggle and building of Modern India would once read Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History to fathom the depth of Nehru.”

I wish those who want to erase Jawahar Lal Nehru’s contribution to freedom struggle & building of Modern India would once read Discovery of India & Glimpses of World History to fathom the depth of Nehru.

Legacies don’t get erased by renaming buildings.https://t.co/gFgCt1p2oT

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) June 16, 2023

In response, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress is levelling allegations even though its leaders have not yet visited the museum to see how contributions and achievements of first PM Jawaharlal Nehru and those of his successors have been showcased in a much better way, with use of technology.

He said the museum showcases the contributions and achievements of all the former PMs, including Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh of the Congress.

नेहरू मेमोरियल में नेहरू जी से जुड़ी वस्तुएँ जिस पुरानी धुरानी अवस्था में पड़ी थी उसे आम भाषा में कहा जा सकता है कि वो सब कुछ पहले धूल फाँक रहा था, तब किसी कांग्रेसी नेता ने कभी सुध नहीं ली।
आज प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के प्रयासों से नेहरू जी से जुड़ी जानकारियों को नये… pic.twitter.com/BNp95vxi2k

— Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi (@SudhanshuTrived) June 16, 2023

“I am deliberately taking the name of their own prime ministers. I can understand if they have some bitterness with Narasimha Rao. But, I want to know what is their problem with the achievements of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Manmohan Singh, whose terms as PM have been showcased in an organised manner,” Trivedi said.

He added the memorial of India’s first PM at Teen Murti Bhavan was not in a very good condition. “It was gathering dust… The portion of Nehru ji’s memorial has been reorganised in a much better way and it showcases his contributions and achievements with the use of advanced technology,” Trivedi added.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former PM Chandra Shekhar’s son Neeraj Shekhar was less charitable. He tweeted: “My father, former PM Chandra Shekhar Ji always worked for national interest. He even worked with Congress but they NEVER looked beyond one dynasty. Now, when PM @narendramodi honoured Prime Ministers across party lines, Cong is getting agitated. Horrible attitude.”

My father, former PM Chandra Shekhar Ji always worked for national interest. He even worked with Congress but they NEVER looked beyond one dynasty. Now, when PM @narendramodi honoured Prime Ministers across party lines, Cong is getting getting agitated. Horrible attitude. https://t.co/CW8ozSH3Ol pic.twitter.com/JwT2qvn562

— Neeraj Shekhar (@MPNeerajShekhar) June 16, 2023

He added, “Forget honouring Prime Ministers, Congress and their royal dynasty have insulted Prime Ministers who do not belong to their dynasty. The treatment towards Narasimha Rao Ji will go down as one of the most shameful chapters of our political history. In the PM Museum, every PM irrespective of party lines has got dignity and respect, their contribution has been highlighted. This shows PM @narendramodi’s statesmanship.”

BJP national president J P Nadda said: “Classic example of political indigestion — the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation. PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this.”

Classic example of political indigestion- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation. PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this. https://t.co/jmyNzJPB9a

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 16, 2023

He tweeted: “Congress’ approach to this issue is ironical considering their party’s only contribution is to erase the legacies of all previous PMs to ensure that only the legacy of one family survives. In PM Sangrahalaya, every PM has got respect. Section relating to Pandit Nehru hasn’t been altered. On the contrary, its prestige has been enhanced. For a party which ruled India for over 50 years, their pettiness is really tragic. It’s also the reason people are rejecting them.”