Stamp row: Congress demands Centre's apology

NEW DELHI: Congress today demanded an apology from the Modi government for its decision to discontinue postal stamps issued in memory of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

"We condemn the approach and attitude of this government towards Gandhis who have sacrificed a lot for the nation. It is an insult to history," senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma told reporters.

Insisting that the decision reflected a "very narrow mindset" of this government, he said that no country forgives a government which insults heroes and martyrs of yesterday.

Noting that Indira and Rajiv were Prime Ministers for 21 years, he said that if the government has some shame left, it should apologise for the decision.

He said that they were not leaders of the Congress Party alone, but leaders of the nation and its people. They reshaped and remolded India into a super power of 21st Century, strived for India's unity and integrity and made supreme sacrifice, he said.

Congress claimed that the decision showed "hatred" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government in seeking personal vendetta which has reached its zenith.