Move to appoint Nehru, not Patel, the PM a Himalayan blunder by Gandhi: BJP mouthpiece; Congress hits back

The editorial, devoted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary last month, has been published in the November 10 edition of the fortnightly. In the editorial in Gujarati language, Surendra Patel, who is also the editor of the mouthpiece, stated, “We all know that by giving the reins of the country to Jawaharlal Nehru instead of Sardar Patel, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gandhiji) had committed a Himalayan blunder.”

The editorial further alleged, “Nehru’s hypocritical ideology had attacked the country’s culture.” The article stated that because of Nehru’s ideology, importance was given to “communist assumptions” instead of the country’s “Sanatan Dharma”, and an unimaginable attempt was made to derail its Ramayana-era direction of “faith-based good governance”.

Criticising Nehru’s foreign policy, the editorial alleged, “Due to Nehru’s hollow foreign policy, the Kashmir issue has remained a burning one till today. Pakistan’s policy has continued indirectly damaging us… Simultaneously, India continued to tolerate China’s bullying. Moreover, India was unable to hold dialogue with other countries while looking them in the face. Owing to Nehru’s foreign policy based on non-aligned movement, India’s existence in the world had been ineffective.”

The editorial further stated, “For many such matters, Gandhiji’s arbitrary and wrong decision to make Nehru PM instead of Sardar (Vallabhbhai Patel) is as much responsible as are Nehru’s policies… For his idea of non-violence, Gandhiji could be a mahamanav (great man) in the eyes of the world, but…history will also evaluate him as the political father of Nehru, who is responsible for the onslaught of hypocritical secularism, foreign mannerism and atrocities on the country’s culture…”  He called upon the party workers to “correct” the “Himalayan blunder of Gandhiji” and be committed to leading the country to success and prosperity higher than the Himalaya under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Surendra Patel said, “I have written the editorial to provide a context because it is an edition on Sardar Patel. And I have mentioned the points explaining why it was Gandhiji’s blunder (to choose Nehru as PM)… we all know the result it led to.”

The Congress said there was nothing new in the thoughts expressed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for Gandhi. Chief Spokesperson of Gujarat Congress Manish Doshi said, “The thoughts of the BJP and the RSS for Gandhiji were negative during the freedom struggle as they are even today… They have no connection with the idea called Gandhi…They are writing all this, but why don’t they write why were they siding with the British during the freedom struggle?” He further asked, “When they are displaying this opportunistic political affection for Sardar Patel Saheb, I want to ask the BJP why did they change the name of Sardar Patel Stadium (to Narendra Modi Stadium)?”

My Express

ECI Bihar Election Results 2025 LIVE: ‘No sorrow in defeat…ups and down inevitable’: RJD’s first reaction to poll rout

West Bengal voter list: Step-by-step guide to check your name in electoral roll of 2002 SIR

Bihar Election Commission of India Results 2025 LIVE: check results on results.eci.gov.in | Chapra, Raghopur, Karakat, Chanpatia, Ramgarh