Attempts to distort history, deny Nehru’s contributions detrimental to Nation : Dy CM Bhatti
Hyderabad, Nov 15 (TNT): Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said attempts to distort history and undermine the contributions of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru were detrimental to the nation, stressing the need to preserve historical facts and take his ideals and philosophy to younger generations.
Inaugurating The Nehru Centre South India at Ravindra Bharathi here on Saturday evening, he said the Telangana Government would extend full cooperation to the centre in disseminating Nehru’s ideology, philosophy and contributions across South India.
Referring to the merger of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union, Vikramarka said Nehru had deputed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to attend the formal merger event. Giving credit exclusively to Patel while ignoring Nehru’s role amounted to distortion of history, he said, adding that Patel could not have attended the event without the approval of the Prime Minister and the Union Cabinet.
Nehru never considered the Prime Minister’s office a position of power or an opportunity for personal recognition but always placed national interests above individual considerations, he said.
Recalling Nehru’s contribution to the freedom struggle, the Deputy Chief Minister said that despite belonging to an affluent family and receiving education abroad, he gave up a luxurious lifestyle and joined the freedom movement under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership.
He spent nearly 13 years in prison during the struggle against British rule, he added.
Despite the challenges confronting newly independent India, including Partition, communal tensions, food shortages and economic difficulties, Nehru worked towards building a united and strong nation, Vikramarka said.
Nehru laid the foundations for modern India by promoting higher education, scientific research and technological advancement through institutions such as IITs and IIMs, besides establishing scientific institutions and multipurpose irrigation projects, he said.
Describing democratic values, secularism and scientific temper as the foundations of modern India, he said Nehru’s ideals continued to remain relevant.
Addressing children at the programme, Vikramarka recalled Nehru’s affection for children and his belief that they represented the future of the country.
His birthday on November 14 is celebrated as Children’s Day in recognition of his love for children, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Telangana Government was investing substantially in education to provide students with quality education, scientific knowledge and technological skills and prepare them to compete globally.
The government had taken up construction of Young India Integrated Residential Schools and initiated measures to develop more than 65 Telangana Public Schools, he said.
He added that diet charges in welfare educational institutions had been increased by 40 per cent and cosmetic charges by 25 per cent soon after the government assumed office. Special attention was also being given to providing nutritious food to students.
The objective was to equip students from Telangana with the skills and capabilities required to compete at national and international levels, including in the corporate sector, he said.
