Mumbai: As the Congress celebrates its 131st Foundation Day today, an article published in its mouthpiece, Congress Darshan, has caused a stir as it blames former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the state of affairs in Kashmir, China and Tibet.
The article, which does not bear the name of the writer, has been published in this month's issue of 'Congress Darshan' Hindi edition as a tribute piece to mark former home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's death anniversary on December 15.
The article states that Nehru should have listened to Patel's views on international affairs including Kashmir.
"Despite Patel getting the post of deputy prime minister and home minister, the relations between the two leaders remained strained, and both had threatened to resign time and again," the article reads.
If Nehru had embraced Patel's foresight, many problems in international affairs would not have arisen, it adds.
The article also cites a letter that Patel reportedly wrote in 1950 to caution Nehru against China's policy towards Tibet and where Patel described China as 'unfaithful, and a future enemy of India'.
"Had Patel been heard (by Nehru) then, the problems of Kashmir, China, Tibet and Nepal wouldn't have existed now. Patel opposed Nehru's move of taking the Kashmir issue to the UNO," stated the article, adding, "Nehru did not agree with Patel's views on Nepal."
The article also takes a shot at party president Sonia Gandhi and her father saying he was a member of the fascist forces in Italy. It further said that Sonia became Congress president 62 days after becoming a member and made a failed attempt to form government.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief Sanjay Nirupam, who also holds the post of Editor of the journal has clarified that that he does not look into its day-to-day functioning of the party's mouthpiece and was unaware of the article.
"I do not agree with the article. It seems to have been sourced, but I don't know who the writer is," Nirupam, who in his earlier stint with Shiv Sena edited Hindi newspaper 'Dopahar Ka Saamana', said, adding that corrective measures would be taken.
A senior party leader claimed that an inquiry will be conducted soon and the editorial team responsible for the embarrassing articles will face action.
(With Agency Inputs)
