Ex-PM Indira Gandhi was a strong leader who 'tamed Pak': Congress

Congress said that Indira Gandhi was a strong leader who taught Pakistan a lesson by separating Bangladesh.

Ahmedabad, Oct 18: Amid shrill debate over taking credit for the surgical strikes by Army in PoK, Congress on Monday invoked its "strong leader" and former prime minister Indira Gandhi who the party said had "changed the map of Asia and taught a lesson to Pakistan by separating Bangladesh in 1971."

Congress also announced to take out a 1200-km 'Adivasi Adhikar Yatra' for tribal rights across Gujarat, commemorating the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi next month, and has invited party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Taking a jibe at ruling BJP, state unit Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki termed Indira as the "strong leader who changed the map of Asia by separating Bangladesh from Pakistan during 1971 war."

"As part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Indira Gandhi, who taught a lesson to Pakistan by changing the map of Asia, Congress has planned to take out 'Adivasi Adhikar Yatra' next month. The march will cover a distance of 1,200 km and pass through 13 districts," he said while addressing the party's executive committee meet here.

In a gesture of political symbolism ahead of Assembly polls in state next year, the Congress has zeroed in on temple town of Ambaji in north Gujarat as the venue to start the march.

"We have invited our national vice-president Rahul Gandhi to take part in the march," Solanki said, adding that the Congress is hopeful of his presence. While addressing the gathering of party leaders and workers, in-charge of Gujarat Congress, Gurudas Kamat, asked them to start gearing up for the polls even as he warned them against any indiscipline.

Earlier on Monday, Congress' women wing president Sobha Oza addressed a meet of women workers at Mansa town in Gandhinagar district. Later talking to reporters in Ahmedabad, Oza said more tickets should be given to female candidates in 2017 elections.

PTI