Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday criticised the BJP for its repetitive allegations of dynasty politics against the Nehru-Gandhi family, saying it was meant to undermine their sacrifices for the nation.
"Their (the BJP’s) biggest allegation is that we are into dynasty politics. But they keep inducting the children of any ideology in their party. They also say that we are into corruption. But I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that we have been doing service (for the nation) for generations. They say we are hungry for power. Tell me, which member of our family was in power in the last 30 years?" she told a poll rally in Roorkee, Uttarakhand.
“They call themselves the bhakts of Lord Ram. If so, then they should tell me what Lord Ram did? Why is he called Maryada Purushottam? This was because he fought for the honour of his family. He protected his dynasty and his country…. He protected his people. It is the tradition of our country. It is not parivarwad (family politics), it is called sewabhav (selfless service). It is nationalism that the second rose when the first became a martyr and the third rose when the second was martyred. The fourth is there to stand up if the third becomes a martyr,” Priyanka said, alluding to her grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi, who were killed by extremists.
“You (the people) have given us a lot. We shall remain indebted to you for generations. It doesn’t matter if you do not want us now. We shall continue doing service to you without demanding anything…. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji will never understand a true faith in something,” Priyanka said.
Earlier, in Pauri Garhwal, she had told a gathering that the leaders in the Modi government had been alleging that the Congress hadn’t done anything for the country in seven decades. Priyanka praised the work of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and said it was not possible to build such prestigious institutes such as the IITs, IIMs and the AIIMS without Nehru’s initiatives.
“They say nothing happened in India in the past 70 years. But how did Uttarakhand develop if the Congress didn’t do anything? From where did the IITs, IIMs and AIIMS come into the country? Chandrayaan landed on the moon; if Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hadn’t built these, was it possible?” she asked.