Aazadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: Jawaharlal Nehru’s absence in poster draws flak from opposition
To add insult to injury, the Aazadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav poster also featured the picture of controversial Veer Savarkar who coined the term Hindutva and the founder of Hindu Mahasabha.
The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) is facing a backlash for not featuring Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s image in a poster celebrating the 75th year of independence. The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) has termed the controversy unnecessary and confirmed that the other posters which will be released in the coming days will feature the picture of Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Veer Savarkar included but Jawaharlal Nehru omitted
The poster was released by ICHR as a part of the Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The poster contained pictures of prominent freedom fighters including Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Madan Mohan Malviya, Dr B.R.Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh and Veer Savarkar. However, what was glaring was the omission of Jawahar Lal Nehru.
To add insult to injury, the poster also featured the picture of controversial Veer Savarkar who coined the term Hindutva and the founder of Hindu Mahasabha.
The opposition Congress party questioned the Prime Minister’s silence on the issue and asked him to rise above prejudice and intervene. The other opposition parties have also called the omission deliberate.
As a part of the ‘Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, the council has invited historians and academicians to speak on different topics related to India’s freedom movement.
The former ICHR Chairman terms omission unintentional
Talking to NDTV Arvind Jamkhedkar, the former ICHR Chairman said that not mentioning Nehru’s name could be unintentional on part of the council. No one can leave out or underestimate the importance of Jawahar Lal Nehru one of the stalwarts of the freedom movement. Arvind Jamkhedkar reiterated that it was not deliberate. The Education ministry has not appointed a successor to Mr Jamkhedkar’s yet.
The opposition parties are not satisfied with the reply and said that it is a dishonour not to include the name of the first Prime Minister of India in the poster and it was done deliberately.
