Anti-Congress leader KC Tyagi attacks BJP for not recognising Nehru and Indira's contributions

NEW DELHI: The chemistry of the changing political equations after BJP’s Bihar defeat was in display in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday when a career anti-Congress leader became the toast of Congress benches, days after BJP’s defeat in the Bihar assembly polls.

Congress members made a beeline to congratulate JD(U) member KC Tyagi — who for most of his life had opposed the Congress and was jailed during the Emergency — after he attacked the BJP over its reluctance to acknowledge the contributions made by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi’s for the development of the country. While top Congress leaders of the Upper House — Ghulam Nabi Azad, AK Antony and Anand Sharma — passed chits to praise Tyagi’s speech, during the discussion on the commitment to the Constitution, several others like Satyavrata Chaturvedi, Ashwani Kumar, Pramod Tiwari, Hussain Dalwai and Rajani Patil made a beeline to Tyagi’s seat to congratulate him.

“Why are you (BJP) reluctant to accept the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and acknowledge their great deeds,” Tyagi said participating in the discussion during the discussion.

“Jawaharlal Nehru is the leader, the founder of modern India,” Tyagi, who considers himself a disciple of Lohia — a staunch anti-Nehru politician — asserted. Given the fact that BJP faults Nehru for ‘mishandling’ the accession of Jammu & Kashmir, Tyagi reminded of Nehru’s efforts in getting Sheikh Abdullah released from jail and turn the majority Muslim population of the state pro-India at the time of Partition. “It was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru alone, and Mahatma Gandhiji’s inspiring leadership, that made Muslims of that state to remain with India,” Tyagi asserted with applause from Congress benches. While acknowledging his opposition to Emergency, the JD(U) leader cautioned the ruling BJP against belittling Indira Gandhi’s contributions.

“As for Indira Gandhi, there are dozen members who have been in jail (during the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi) and I have shared jail with them. But, if we are going to erase the history of the social empowerment tasks undertaken after Bangladesh (war) and nationalisation, no history would be left untouched,” Tyagi said.