The Crossbill News Desk
The Congress on Tuesday (May 27) launched a sharp counterattack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his veiled criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru, accusing him of engaging in “Nehru-bashing” even on the first prime minister’s death anniversary to divert public attention from pressing national concerns.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, described Modi as a “master distorian” and criticised his continued attempts to vilify Nehru.
“Even on Nehru's death anniversary the nation's supreme (mis) leader and master distorian is active in Nehru-bashing. This is a pathetic attempt at diverting attention from very many serious issues that confront us today, which he must answer,” Ramesh wrote on social media platform X.
Raising concerns over national security, Ramesh asked why the perpetrators of the recent Pahalgam terror attack remain at large.
“Why are the terrorists responsible for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack still moving around somewhere - more so since they were reportedly involved in the terror attacks in Poonch (Dec 2023), Gagangir (Oct 2024) and Gulmarg (Oct 2024)?” Ramesh asked.
He also questioned the prime minister’s silence on several sensitive matters, including repeated statements made by US President Donald Trump on a ceasefire between India and Pakistan that reportedly halted ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“Why is the PM silent on the US President's statements -- 8 in 11 days -- on the ceasefire between India and Pakistan that forced Operation Sindoor to stop?” Ramesh asked.
The Congress leader also criticised Modi for remaining “quiet” about the strengthening military ties between China and Pakistan.
“Why is the PM quiet on the deep military nexus between China and Pakistan, that has now become more apparent than ever before- the very same China to whom he had given a clean chit on June 19, 2020 publicly and with whom India has continued to have rising a trade deficit?,” Ramesh alleged.
He further accused the Modi government of diplomatic failure, pointing to what he termed the “growing hyphenation” of India with Pakistan on the global stage.
“Why is the PM quiet on the growing hyphenation of India with Pakistan and the failure of our diplomacy and our narrative to isolate Pakistan?” he stated.
Ramesh’s remarks came in response to Modi’s comments during a speech in Gandhinagar, where the prime minister appeared to indirectly criticise Nehru’s handling of Kashmir in the aftermath of Partition.
“In 1947, when Maa Bharti was partitioned, 'katni chahiye thi zanjeerein par kaat di gayi bhujayein (chains should have been cut but instead, hands were severed)'. The country was divided into three parts. On that very night, the first terrorist attack took place in Kashmir,” Modi said, referencing the tribal invasion of Kashmir supported by Pakistan.
He further went on to say, “A part of Maa Bharti was captured by Pakistan using terrorists in the name of Mujahideen. If on that day, these Mujahideen were killed, and Sardar Patel's wish was that until we get back PoK, our armed forces should not stop. But no one listened to him and now, we have been facing this (terrorism) for the last 75 years. Pahalgam was also a perverse form of it.”
In an earlier post, Ramesh paid tribute to Nehru on his 61st death anniversary, praising his foundational role in shaping modern India.
“Today is the 61st death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, who simply refuses to go away in spite of a systematic 6D effort being made -- since 2014 especially -- to defame, distort, deny, denigrate, diminish, and demolish him and his legacy,” he wrote.
“He remains a source of great inspiration to all those committed to the idea of an India anchored in the finest of its own composite heritage, an open, liberal and secular democracy with its Constitutional goals of social, economic and political justice, modern science and technology with a scientific temper at its roots and an India that stands exclusive globally by being uncompromisingly inclusive at home," Ramesh added.
"For Nehru democracy and yet more democracy was the oxygen which gave meaning to our lives, not demagoguery. He was authoritative without being authoritarian. He was not just an outstanding public figure who read, wrote, and shaped history decisively - perhaps more importantly, a good, decent, large-hearted, reflective, and noble human being with no insecurities whatsoever which he would have to overcome with bluffs, brags, and bombasts as we are seeing daily since May 26, 2014. For Nehru, India was one and many at the same time. His entire life was devoted to deepening that oneness while at same time celebrating the many diversities that have defined India. To reclaim the idea of India that is now under so much assault, we have to reclaim the ideas of Nehru himself," Ramesh further added.
“Nehru wrote his will and testament ten years before he passed away. It is written in 'sparkling prose' that is so very poetic,” he concluded.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first and longest-serving prime minister, held office from independence in August 1947 until his death on May 27, 1964.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, described Modi as a “master distorian” and criticised his continued attempts to vilify Nehru.
“Even on Nehru's death anniversary the nation's supreme (mis) leader and master distorian is active in Nehru-bashing. This is a pathetic attempt at diverting attention from very many serious issues that confront us today, which he must answer,” Ramesh wrote on social media platform X.
Raising concerns over national security, Ramesh asked why the perpetrators of the recent Pahalgam terror attack remain at large.
“Why are the terrorists responsible for the brutal Pahalgam terror attack still moving around somewhere - more so since they were reportedly involved in the terror attacks in Poonch (Dec 2023), Gagangir (Oct 2024) and Gulmarg (Oct 2024)?” Ramesh asked.
He also questioned the prime minister’s silence on several sensitive matters, including repeated statements made by US President Donald Trump on a ceasefire between India and Pakistan that reportedly halted ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“Why is the PM silent on the US President's statements -- 8 in 11 days -- on the ceasefire between India and Pakistan that forced Operation Sindoor to stop?” Ramesh asked.
The Congress leader also criticised Modi for remaining “quiet” about the strengthening military ties between China and Pakistan.
“Why is the PM quiet on the deep military nexus between China and Pakistan, that has now become more apparent than ever before- the very same China to whom he had given a clean chit on June 19, 2020 publicly and with whom India has continued to have rising a trade deficit?,” Ramesh alleged.
He further accused the Modi government of diplomatic failure, pointing to what he termed the “growing hyphenation” of India with Pakistan on the global stage.
“Why is the PM quiet on the growing hyphenation of India with Pakistan and the failure of our diplomacy and our narrative to isolate Pakistan?” he stated.
Ramesh’s remarks came in response to Modi’s comments during a speech in Gandhinagar, where the prime minister appeared to indirectly criticise Nehru’s handling of Kashmir in the aftermath of Partition.
“In 1947, when Maa Bharti was partitioned, 'katni chahiye thi zanjeerein par kaat di gayi bhujayein (chains should have been cut but instead, hands were severed)'. The country was divided into three parts. On that very night, the first terrorist attack took place in Kashmir,” Modi said, referencing the tribal invasion of Kashmir supported by Pakistan.
He further went on to say, “A part of Maa Bharti was captured by Pakistan using terrorists in the name of Mujahideen. If on that day, these Mujahideen were killed, and Sardar Patel's wish was that until we get back PoK, our armed forces should not stop. But no one listened to him and now, we have been facing this (terrorism) for the last 75 years. Pahalgam was also a perverse form of it.”
In an earlier post, Ramesh paid tribute to Nehru on his 61st death anniversary, praising his foundational role in shaping modern India.
“Today is the 61st death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, who simply refuses to go away in spite of a systematic 6D effort being made -- since 2014 especially -- to defame, distort, deny, denigrate, diminish, and demolish him and his legacy,” he wrote.
“He remains a source of great inspiration to all those committed to the idea of an India anchored in the finest of its own composite heritage, an open, liberal and secular democracy with its Constitutional goals of social, economic and political justice, modern science and technology with a scientific temper at its roots and an India that stands exclusive globally by being uncompromisingly inclusive at home," Ramesh added.
"For Nehru democracy and yet more democracy was the oxygen which gave meaning to our lives, not demagoguery. He was authoritative without being authoritarian. He was not just an outstanding public figure who read, wrote, and shaped history decisively - perhaps more importantly, a good, decent, large-hearted, reflective, and noble human being with no insecurities whatsoever which he would have to overcome with bluffs, brags, and bombasts as we are seeing daily since May 26, 2014. For Nehru, India was one and many at the same time. His entire life was devoted to deepening that oneness while at same time celebrating the many diversities that have defined India. To reclaim the idea of India that is now under so much assault, we have to reclaim the ideas of Nehru himself," Ramesh further added.
“Nehru wrote his will and testament ten years before he passed away. It is written in 'sparkling prose' that is so very poetic,” he concluded.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first and longest-serving prime minister, held office from independence in August 1947 until his death on May 27, 1964.
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