Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra has found himself in the middle of a raging controversy after news reports emerged, and BJP alleged that during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Saturday (October 16), Karra made ‘derogatory remarks’ regarding India’s first deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
Reportedly, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra in a press conference remarked, “Today it has been published in the newspapers that in the CWC meeting held two days ago, some questions were raised regarding Kashmir. At the meeting, senior Congress leader and CWC member Tariq Hameed Karra created an atmosphere of confusion regarding Kashmir. He also said Jawaharlal Nehru ji had integrated Jammu and Kashmir into India and Sardar Patel tried to keep Kashmir out of India,”
Today's newspapers published that in recent CWC meet, sr Congress leader&CWC member Tariq Hameed Karra created misconception over Kashmir & said that Jawaharlal Nehru is the one who integrated J&K in India while Sardar Patel tried to keep it separate from India: Sambit Patra, BJP pic.twitter.com/gh8zrLKbao
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2021
Will Gandhi’s take action on Karra? — BJP
Patra further alleged that Congress had first defamed Veer Savarkar and was now attempting to vilify Sardar Patel. He said, “This family can utter wrong about anyone to keep their Nehru-Gandhi dynasty above, doesn’t matter whether it is Subhas Chandra Bose, Vinayak Savarkar or Vallabhbhai Patel.”
The BJP also sought to know whether the Congress party will reprimand Karra and sack him from the CWC. “Karra had said that Sardar Patel colluded with Jinnah and was trying to keep Kashmir separate from India. When Sardar Patel was being vilified in the CWC meeting, did Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi object to it?” asked BJP
CWC invitee Tariq Hameed Karra, while praising Nehru targeted Sardar Patel by saying that the people of J&K are in India "only because of Nehru" and that Patel was “in league" with Jinnah
If Congress doesn’t sack him it’s clear that Gandhis patronise attempts to vilify Patel
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) October 18, 2021
After being called out, Karra didn’t apologise for his statements, albeit he clarified by reiterating his stance and remarked he was misrepresented. Standing by his claim of Patel ‘being fine’ with J&K going to Pakistan, Karra added that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who asserted that J&K be a part of India. According to Karra, Sardar Patel believed that even if J&K goes to Pakistan, negotiations could have been held regarding Junagadh and Hyderabad.
I had said that Pt Nehru had asserted that J&K be made a part of India, he didn't want it to be called a theocratic State like Pakistan. I said that Sardar Patel had said that even if J&K goes towards Pak negotiations can be held regarding Junagadh & Hyderabad: Tariq Hameed Karra
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2021
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel – the Iron Man of India
Contrary to what the INC leader claimed, the ‘Iron Man of India’ had a pivotal part to play in creating the ‘Union of India’. After India gained independence on August 15, 1947 — the Indian Independence Act 1947, passed a few months ago came into being and the policy of subsidiary alliances was abandoned. Hence, the princely states were given three options to decide their future: either accede to India or Pakistan or remain independent.
With efficient leadership and a brilliant strategy, Sardar Patel and VP Menon made the impossible possible, and within a year 562 princely states were ready to merge with India. Soon enough, owing to Sardar’s strategy, J&K became a part of India. Hyderabad & Junagadh soon followed the suit. Hyderabad was assimilated into the Indian fold through military operations under Operation Polo, which was the brainchild of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
Read More: How Operation Polo led by Sardar Patel prevented India from being run over by Islamists?
Had it not been for Saradar Patel, these princely states with considerable resources and strategic locations would have gone to Pakistan, giving the terrorist country an edge. Had that happened, the current position of India and Pakistan would have been reversed with Pakistan being the greater power in South Asia.
Tough times require tough actions, and Patel was that tough man who had the will and courage to take the tough actions required to keep the nation united. Only if the subsequent leaders had the same guile, India would not have lost its significant border areas. However, Congress and its leaders continue to eulogise the Nehru-Gandhi clan, admonishing the achievements of other stalwarts.
