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 We only know of one historical document.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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1,850 missing mobile phones recovered as Delhi Police focusses on victim-centric policing
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has recovered 1,850 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around Rs 4 crore in past 40 days under "Mission Reconnect", an initiative aimed at returning phones to their rightful owners in outernorth Delhi, an official said on Saturday.
The recovered phones were traced from different parts of the country, including remote areas, through technical surveillance and sustained field operations, police said, adding that the devices were handed over to their owners during a programme at the Sports Ground, New Police Lines, Kingsway Camp.
The initiative focused on a victim-centric approach and aimed at strengthening public trust through proactive policing and coordinated efforts across states, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outernorth) Hareshwar Swami said.
As part of the programme, teams performed 'nukkad nataks' and screened awareness videos on cybercrime, drug abuse prevention, and senior citizen safety, sensitising the public about digital frauds and safety measures, officials said.
The initiative combines technology, investigation and community participation to ensure recovery of lost property and reconnect citizens with their valuables, they added.
