The Indian National Congress has launched a sharp attack on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, demanding a public apology for his recent remarks about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Babri Masjid. The party has produced what it claims is original documentary evidence to counter the minister's statement.
The Controversial Statement and the Demand for Apology
On Saturday, December 7, 2025, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, took to social media platform X to make the demand. This came in response to a speech made by Rajnath Singh on December 2 in Sadhli village, Vadodara, Gujarat.
In his address, Singh had stated, "When Pandit Nehru raised the issue of spending money from the government treasury on the Babri Masjid, it was Sardar Patel, son of a Gujarati mother, who opposed it." The Congress has categorically labelled this claim as a falsehood.
Congress Counters with 'Original' Diary Evidence
To substantiate its demand for an apology, Jairam Ramesh shared screenshots from a published book. He directed attention to the diary of Maniben Patel, the daughter of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Ramesh pointed to pages 212-213 of the book titled 'Samarpit Padchhayo Sardarno' authored by CA R S Patel 'Aaresh'. The book was published in 2025 by the Sardar Patel Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Society. The shared excerpts contained Maniben's original diary entry written in Gujarati.
"There is a huge difference between what is contained in the original diary entry and what Rajnath Singh ji and his fellow 'distorians' are propagating," Ramesh asserted in his post. He further accused the Defence Minister of spreading false narratives to "improve his relationship" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Political Repercussions and Historical Narratives
This incident has ignited a fresh political debate centred on the interpretation of India's modern history and the legacies of its founding figures. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had previously cited a book by Sardar Patel's daughter to support Singh's claims. They also referenced Nehru's documented feeling of being "repelled" by some South Indian temples despite their architectural beauty.
The Congress's forceful rebuttal, backed by a specific archival reference, sets the stage for a continued war of words. It underscores the ongoing political battle where historical records are frequently invoked to validate contemporary political positions. The demand for an apology places direct pressure on a senior Union Minister, making it a significant point of political contention.
As of now, there has been no official response or apology from Rajnath Singh or the BJP regarding the Congress's latest challenge and the presented evidence from Maniben Patel's diary.
