Now BJP wants to share K Kamaraj legacy

VIRUDHNAGAR: In yet another bid to share the legacy over national leaders, BJP today hailed the late K Kamaraj, a former Congress President, as a national leader who had opposed Emergency and drew parallels between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a function to mark the 113th birth anniversary of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at his birth place here, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the BJP was keen to take forward Kamaraj's legacy.

Amit Shah, President of BJP which has been making efforts to broaden its base in the Tamil Nadu where Assembly elections are due next year, was to participate in the celebrations but he cancelled his programme because of pre-occupation in Delhi.

Some time ago, the BJP-led NDA government decided to construct a memorial in Delhi for former the late prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, who was virtually disowned by Congress.

Rao did not share the best of relationship with Congress President Sonia Gandhi during his days as prime minister, while Kamaraj had opposed Indira Gandhi and the Emergency.

Congress and BJP have already sparred over the legacy of Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose.

Congress has also accused BJP of trying the "belittle" the contribution of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and "usurp" the legacy of its leaders ever since the NDA government came to power last year.