NEW DELHI: A day after Congress MP Danish Ali accused the Centre of indulging in “dirty politics” over its decision to set up a memorial for Pranab Mukherjee and linked it to the former President’s alleged “love for RSS”, his daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee said the remark showed his ignorance and lack of knowledge of the party’s history.
“People, whether Danish Ali or some XYZ individuals making such statements, I would say they are perhaps trying to please Rahul Gandhi. In doing so, they are insulting the wisdom and intelligence of Rahul Gandhi’s predecessors, such as Mrs. Indira Gandhi, his mother Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders like Dr. Manmohan Singh,” she told news agency PTI.
“If Pranab Mukherjee were indeed aligned with the RSS, why did Congress entrust him with so many different and highly significant responsibilities over 45 years? Was Mrs. Indira Gandhi not intelligent enough to see through that? Was Mrs. Sonia Gandhi unaware of such things? These are baseless statements, and if certain Congress members are making them, it shows their lack of knowledge about Congress’s history and parliamentary democracy,” she said.
“In a parliamentary democracy, different ideologies can coexist and dialogue between them is essential — this is one of the strongest pillars of parliamentary democracy. Those making such remarks clearly lack understanding and are exposing their ignorance and prejudice through their statements,” Sharmistha Mukherjee added.
In a social media post on X, Ali had alleged that the honour was given to the former President because “his love” for the RSS.
“The Modi government has indulged in dirty politics over death and has rejected the demand of the entire nation for space for Manmohan Singh at Rajghat memorial site and has given land at the same place for Pranab Mukherjee’s memorial. This is low level politics and a grave insult to the Prime Minister who brought economic revolution in the country,” the Congress MP had said.
“This decision of the government is also a gift to Pranab Mukherjee for his love for the Sangh. Pranab Mukherjee had bowed his head at the Nagpur headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and conferred the title of Dhartiputra on Sangh founder Hedgewar. Mukherjee had also played an important role in getting Savarkar’s picture installed in the Parliament House,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP launched a scathing attack on the grand-old-party accusing it of disrespecting its own leaders. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciates contribution to the country and regardless of political affiliation and honoured leaders Sharad Pawar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Tarun Gogoi in his government.