Says Institutions established under Nehru’s regime reflect his vision for a modern & self-reliant India
Jammu, Nov 13: Senior Congress leader and DDC Suchetgarh, Taranjit Singh Tony has urged for a unified effort to honor India’s freedom fighters by celebrating the birth anniversary of the country’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in all government schools across the Union Territory. He emphasized the importance of educating the younger generation about Nehru’s monumental contributions to India’s freedom struggle and his vision for the nation’s development.
In a statement issued here today, Tony criticized the attempts by the present regime to undermine Nehru’s legacy and mislead the younger generation about the true history of India’s freedom struggle.
Tony condemned the ongoing efforts of the BJP government to alter the nation’s educational curriculum to reflect their own ideologies. “The BJP is hell-bent on changing our education system to suit their agenda, rewriting history in a way that dishonors our true freedom fighters. Those who stood by the side of the British and were apologetic about the colonial rule, without ever raising their voices against the oppressors, are now being propped up as so-called ‘freedom fighters.’ This is an insult to the true heroes of our independence struggle,” he stated.
He mentioned that during Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure as India’s first Prime Minister, several key national institutions were established, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, the Planning Commission, the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), the Sahitya Akademi, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), the National Institute of Design (NID), the National Academy of Sciences (NASI), and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). These institutions reflect Nehru’s vision for a modern, self-reliant, and scientifically advanced India, focusing on education, research, industrial development, and national integration, he added.
The senior Congress leader called on the youth of India to actively challenge the false and frivolous character-assassinating campaign being led by the BJP IT Cell. “The BJP’s IT Cell is engaged in a malicious attempt to tarnish the image of true national leaders like Pandit Nehru and others who fought for India’s freedom. This agenda of lies and distortion must be fought tooth and nail. The youth of India must stand up and reject this attempt to rewrite history,” he emphasized.
Tony reiterated that while political ideologies may differ, there must be a collective respect for the contributions made by the leaders who shaped India’s freedom and nation-building. “We may have different ideologies, but we cannot afford to forget the sacrifices made by our national heroes. Nehru’s vision for India, his dedication to building institutions like ISRO, IITs, AIIMS, and other national institutions, cannot be erased by the lies and propaganda being spread today,” he asserted.
Tony reaffirmed the need for the youth to be educated about the true history of India’s struggle for independence. “As we honor the legacy of Pt. Nehru on his birth anniversary, let us commit to ensuring that future generations understand the truth of our nation’s history, the role of its freedom fighters, and the vision of leaders like Nehru who laid the foundations for a prosperous, independent India,” he added.
