BJP national president JP Nadda launched a sharp critique against India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during a public address in Vadodara, accusing him of creating a chronic wound in Jammu and Kashmir through the implementation of Article 370. The speech was delivered on Saturday as part of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 150th birth anniversary celebrations.
Historical Integration vs Division
Nadda drew a stark contrast between Sardar Patel's nation-building efforts and Nehru's handling of Jammu and Kashmir. Sardar Patel successfully integrated 562 princely states into the Indian Union, creating a unified nation. However, Nadda emphasized that Nehru's separate approach to Jammu and Kashmir created lasting damage to national unity.
The BJP president specifically highlighted how Article 370 created a state within a state, where Jammu and Kashmir had different flags, a separate prime minister, and a legislative assembly where Indian laws didn't automatically apply. This special status, according to Nadda, became a persistent problem that weakened the country's integrity for decades.
Modi Government's Historic Correction
Nadda credited the current leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for rectifying what he described as Nehru's historical mistake. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was presented as the culmination of efforts to heal the wound that had persisted since independence.
The BJP chief asserted that only under Modi's leadership has Sardar Patel received the recognition he deserved for his monumental contribution to India's integration. Nadda pointed to the 182-meter tall Statue of Unity in Kevadia as symbolic of this renewed appreciation, describing it as representing the aspirations of India's 140 crore citizens.
Congress Conspiracy Allegations
In his speech, Nadda made serious allegations against the Congress party, accusing them of engaging in a deliberate conspiracy to erase Sardar Patel's legacy from historical narratives. He claimed this systematic effort included even restricting senior Congress leaders from attending Patel's funeral ceremonies.
The BJP president's remarks came during the 'Sardar@150 National Unity March' event in Vadodara, where he repeatedly emphasized Patel's role as a rashtra purush (national hero) while contrasting it with what he portrayed as Nehru's divisive policies that compromised national unity.
Nadda concluded by stressing that while remembering Sardar Patel's unifying achievements, it's equally important to recognize those historical decisions and leaders that potentially weakened the country's foundational integrity.
