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After Gandhi, Indira most favoured leader: P Chidambaram
Praising former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday described her as the \"most favoured leader\" of the country after Mahatma Gandhi. \"Indira Gandhi did not belong to any religion, region or caste. That is why, she is truly loved by all the sections of the country even today,\" the former Union Home Minister said at a seminar commemorating the birth centena
​Hyderabad: Praising former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday described her as the "most favoured leader" of the country after Mahatma Gandhi. "Indira Gandhi did not belong to any religion, region or caste. That is why, she is truly loved by all the sections of the country even today," the former Union Home Minister said at a seminar commemorating the birth centenary celebrations of the Congress stalwart here.
"Many social scientists have said that after Mahatma Gandhi, whose name is easily recognised anywhere in the country, the most favoured leader is Indira," said the Rajya Sabha member. "One can agree, disagree or debate, but no one can doubt Indira Gandhi's patriotism and love for the people of this country," he added.
Chidambaram said the former Prime Minister had the courage of conviction and that was why she had admitted that the imposition of Emergency in the 1970s was a mistake. "Those who criticise the imposition of Emergency must also recognise that she (Indira) was the first person to admit the mistake.
That was a great quality of Indira Gandhi," he said. Claiming that Emergency was "rightly" imposed, he said one had to "look into the circumstances" which led to it. The year-long birth centenary celebrations of Indira Gandhi are marked by seminars conducted across the country.
Dr Shanta Sinha, former Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, presented a paper on ‘Radicalising Democracy: Indira Gandhi’s battle against impoverishment in India.’ She said many policies likethe nationalisation of banks, green revolution and Bonded Labour Prevention Act, etc were all pro-poor. She further said, “While demonetisation harmed ordinary citizens, nationalisation of banks did not.”
The most important part of her leadership was Green Revolution, she said while exclaiming that “her biggest contribution was to turn India from a begging bowl of rice and wheat to the biggest exporter of paddy and wheat.”
After Mahatma Gandhi, former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi’s name has received most honour from the social society”, said the former Union Minister.
Speaking on the occasion, former Union Minister Ajay Maken said Indira Gandhi has been the voice of the oppressed and it is the mandate of Congress party to continue the welfare programmes that were pioneered by her during her tenure as Prime Minister.
Leader of Opposition in Telangana Assembly K Jana Reddy, Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy,K Ramachandra Murthi, editorial director of Sakshi Media Group and senior journalist MallepalliLaxmaiah also spoke.
