Opposition leaders slam Rajnath's remarks on Nehru
New Delhi (PTI): Several opposition leaders on Wednesday slammed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks that the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to build the Babri masjid using public funds, and accused him and the ruling BJP of distorting historical facts.
Addressing a gathering on Tuesday at Sadhli village near Vadodara as part of a 'Unity March' to commemorate Sardar Patel's 150th birth anniversary, Singh said, "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid (in Ayodhya) using public funds. If anyone opposed this proposal, it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born to a Gujarati mother.
"He didn't allow the Babri Masjid to be built using public funds".
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the remarks are aimed at distracting attention from real issues that need to be discussed.
"These are all distractions. There are many other real issues that need to be discussed. They create a new distraction every day so that we are unable to discuss the real issues of the people," the Wayanad MP told media persons.
Congress Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh Manish Tewari said the defence minister should focus on strategic challenges "instead of twisting and turning history to suit his narrative".
Congress Lok Sabha MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood also questioned Singh's claim.
"I don't know why he is making such remarks. We only know of one historical document. If it concerns Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, they should have the document...," Masood told reporters.
"Nobody will accept it just because he says so. Yes, there is one document in which Sardar Patel took action to ban the RSS... All of this was done by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. His roadmap is the very path on which the country is progressing today. He also fostered scientific thinking," he said.
Other opposition parties also criticised the Defence Minister's remarks.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Badaun, Dharmendra Yadav, said Singh should focus on defence issues.
"Rajnath Singh is a very experienced leader and India's defence minister, and he should focus on providing facilities and other conveniences to our armed forces and fighters... I believe the defence minister may not be fully aware of such matters. You know how the Bharatiya Janata Party presents historical facts, and I think the entire country understands this," he said.
TMC MP Kirti Azad and NCP(SP)'s Fauzia Khan also spoke on similar lines.
"Rajnath Singh is in a very responsible constitutional post serving as the Defence Minister. He is such a senior leader... it doesn't suit him. He should either present evidence of what he is saying or apologise and resign. It is shameful..." Azad said.
Khan, meanwhile, said, "I feel the topic is condemnable. The money that should be used for the Masjid should be earned honestly; there is no such thing as government funding, so why is it being discussed?"
Congress Lok Sabha MP from Katihar, Tariq Anwar, accused the BJP leader of "digging up old issues".
"Whether it is Rajnath Singh, the prime minister, or the entire BJP and NDA government, their only job seems to be digging up old issues, reviving past controversies, and raking up history.
"They keep talking about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, but Nehru is not alive today to respond. They deliberately pull such topics out of the pages of history, knowing well that the person they are accusing is no longer present to answer for himself," he said.
VIDEO | Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera, on Rajnath Singh's 'Nehru wanted to build Babri mosque using public funds' remark, says, "I did not expect such comments from a Defence Minister... They don't have proof of it but we have proof that the 800 year old Jhandewalan temple… pic.twitter.com/Y7N9zYoXZX
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SIT formed to probe second sexual assault case against expelled Cong MLA Mamkootathil
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe a second case of sexual assault against expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, police officials said on Friday.
The SIT will be led by G Poonguzhali, Assistant Inspector General at the Police Headquarters.
The team also includes a DSP rank officer and sub-inspectors, officials added.
The second sexual assault complaint was received by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, which it forwarded to the state police chief.
ALSO READ: Cong expels rape-accused MLA Mamkootathil from party's primary membership
Following this, the Crime Branch registered a case and launched an investigation.
Crime Branch officials said the email complaint contained only the sender's email ID and no other contact details.
As part of the probe, they have sent a reply email requesting that the complainant contact them and provide her statement.
The complainant has alleged that she was sexually assaulted under the false promise of marriage, a Crime Branch official said.
However, details such as the location and date of the alleged incident are not currently available to the police.
The SIT will attempt to trace the sender of the email and record her statement, which is crucial for further investigation, the officer said.
Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress party on Thursday after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail petition in another rape case.
Police said he is currently absconding, and a manhunt is underway in Kerala and neighbouring states.
