Manohar Lal Khattar Says Nehru Became PM By Accident, Congress Hits Backs

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently stirred controversy by calling Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru an "accidental Prime Minister." Speaking at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana, Khattar suggested that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were more deserving of the position. This statement has sparked a political debate.

"I want to say that Pandit JL Nehru became a prime minister by accident. In his place, someone who deserved it (to become India's first PM) was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr BR Ambedkar," says Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar ( @mlkhattar ), while addressing a gathering at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, Haryana.

Political Reactions and Accusations

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda responded sharply to Khattar's remarks. He retorted that Khattar himself became an "accidental chief minister," implying that this was why he made such statements. The exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions between the parties.

Last month, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also criticised Nehru during a political dispute over Ambedkar's legacy. Yogi accused Congress of disrespecting Ambedkar both during his life and after his death. He claimed Nehru opposed Ambedkar's role in the Constitution Drafting Committee.

Congress Demands Apology from PM Modi

Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly distorting facts about Nehru. Kharge accused Modi of misleading the public regarding Nehru's stance on state reservations through selective quoting.

The Congress president highlighted that the first constitutional amendment aimed to provide reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, address educational and employment issues, and abolish the Zamindari system. He noted that this amendment involved Constituent Assembly members like Syama Prasad Mookerjee.