No one can doubt Nehru’s intentions: Rajnath Singh

As the nation fondly remembered the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 126th birth anniversary on Saturday, home minister Rajnath Singh, while paying tributes to the tall leader, said that despite ideological differences, no one can doubt Nehru’s intention to work for the welfare of people and nation building.

“There are many issues in which we have differences with Nehru. We have differences over his policies, but we can’t doubt his intention to work for the welfare of people and nation building,” the home minister said at a function organised on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Nehru.

Mr Singh, a veteran BJP leader, said he may not see Nehru, a Congressman, in the “political mirror”, but could always see him in the “national mirror”.

The home minister said due to the immense contributions of leaders like Nehru, India today has a vibrant Parliament, an efficient bureaucracy, independent judiciary and fearless press.

“It was because of the contributions of leaders like Nehru, India has become the largest democracy in the world, India is now celebrating the success of democracy,” he said.

Mr Singh said it was under the stewardship of Nehru that the country had set up large industries in Bhilai, Rourkela, top institutions like IITs and IIM and nuclear plants.

“Even though Nehru had emphasised on industrialisation, he knew that agriculture was the key for the country. He had said ‘I am all for industry and I am all for steel plants. But agriculture is far more important than industry’,” the home minister said, quoting Nehru.

The home minister said Nehru always took the initiative for proper education and guidance for children as he had realised that India would be a developed country only when its children are properly educated.