Attempts to distort Nehru’s contributions harmful to nation: Bhatti

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka expressed concern over attempts to distort history and deny due credit to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his contributions to nation-building.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Nehru Centre in South India at Ravindra Bharathi on Saturday, Mr. Vikramarka said attempts to undermine Nehru’s contributions could harm the country.

Mr. Vikramarka alleged that attempts were being made to misrepresent the contributions of several national leaders for political gains. He said institutions like the Nehru Centre had an important role in educating people about historical facts.

Recalling Nehru’s role in shaping independent India, the Deputy Chief Minister said the country faced several challenges, including partition, communal tensions, food shortages and economic difficulties, in the years following Independence. Despite these challenges, Nehru had worked towards building a united and strong nation with a long-term vision.

He said Nehru had laid the foundation for modern India’s development by establishing premier educational and scientific institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and promoting the establishment of management institutions and multipurpose irrigation projects.

Mr. Vikramarka said the democratic values, secular principles and scientific temper advocated by Nehru remained relevant. Addressing children who attended the programme on Children’s Day, he recalled Nehru’s affection for children and his belief that they were the future of the country.

Referring to the State government’s initiatives in the education sector, he said the government’s objective was to equip students with scientific knowledge, technological skills and a modern outlook to enable them to compete at the national and international levels.