Self-obsessed govt hell-bent on trivialising freedom fighters' sacrifices: Sonia Gandhi

Gandhi's attack came a day after the BJP released a video narrating its version of events that led to India's partition in 1947

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday tore into the "self-obsessed" Narendra Modi government, accusing it of being hell-bent on "trivialising" the sacrifices of freedom fighters and the "proud" achievements of the country.

Her comments came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of Independence Day and a day after the ruling BJP released a video narrating its version of event that led to the partition while accusing Jawaharlal Nehru among others as responsible for the division.

"We have achieved a great deal in the last 75 years, but today's self-obsessed government is hell-bent on trivialising the great sacrifices of our freedom fighters and the glorious achievements of the country, which can never be accepted," Sonia said.

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Sonia, who missed the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Congress headquarters as she is down with Covid-19 for the third time, said that the Congress will strongly oppose "any misrepresentation of historical facts and every attempt to put great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Abul Kalam Azad" in the dock based on falsehood for "political gains".

In the past 75 years, she said in a statement, India has left an "indelible mark" on the international arena in all fields including science, education, health and information technology through the hard work of its talented people.

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"Under the leadership of its visionary leaders, while on one hand, India established a free, fair and transparent election system, on the other, it strengthened democracy and constitutional institutions. Along with this, India has made its identity as a leading country that has always lived up to pluralism in language, religion and sect," she added.

At the Congress headquarters, senior leader Ambika Soni unfurled the national flag in the presence of former party chief Rahul Gandhi and others. Rahul was flanked by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma.

Independence Day Coverage with DH

Others who were present included party General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, Treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal and party veteran Mohsina Kidwai. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge were not present as she is recovering from Covid-19.

The Congress had also taken a strong exception to the exclusion of India’s first prime minister Nehru in the Karnataka government's newspaper advertisement on freedom fighters and termed the BJP action "pathetic".