Cong left red-faced! Party mouthpiece criticises 'iconic leader' Nehru, targets Sonia

New Delhi, Dec 28: Landing party into a big embarrassing spot, Congress' in its own mouthpiece has criticized its biggest ever leader and former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru for his 'Kashmir policy'.

Reportedly, mouthpiece "Congress Darshan" in its December issue has featured two articles, criticizing iconic leader Nehru and present party president Sonia Gandhi. The mouthpiece writes that Sonia Gandhi's father was a "fascist soldier".

The development has come to fore at a time when party is gearing up to celebrate its 131st foundation day on Monday. The article, which does not bear the name of the writer, has been published as a tribute piece to mark Patel's death anniversary on December 15.

One article states that Nehru should have listened to freedom fighter and former home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's views on international affairs.

"Despite Patel getting the post of deputy prime minister and home minister, the relations between the two leaders remained strained, and both had threatened to resign time and again," the article says.

If Nehru had embraced Patel's foresight, many problems in international affairs would not have arisen, it adds.

The article cites a letter that Patel reportedly wrote in 1950 to caution Nehru against China's policy towards Tibet and where "Patel described China as unfaithful, and a future enemy of India."

"Had Patel been heard (by Nehru) then, the problems of Kashmir, China, Tibet and Nepal wouldn't have existed now. Patel opposed Nehru's move of taking the Kashmir issue to the UNO," stated the article, adding, "Nehru did not agree with Patel's views on Nepal."

Another article, which focuses on the Congress President, describes her early life in great detail, including her "ambition to become an airhostess", as well as allegation that her father was a member of the Italian forces that lost to the Russians in the World War.

"Sonia Gandhi's father Stephano Maino was a former fascist soldier," it alleged. The write-up also describes how Sonia quickly rose to the position of party president. "Sonia Gandhi registered as a primary member of the Congress in 1997 and became the party’s president in 62 days. She also made an unsuccessful attempt to form a government," the article says.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief and editor of the journal Sanjay Nirupam said he is not involved in the day-to-day functioning of the magazine and was unaware of the article.

"I do not agree with the article. It seems to have been sourced, but I don't know who the writer is," Nirupam, who in his earlier stint with Shiv Sena edited Hindi newspaper 'Dopahar Ka Saamana', said, adding that corrective measures would be taken.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)