After the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated with great fanfare the 139 anniversary of Sardar Patel (one of the driving forces of national independence), now is the turn of the Congress to praise one of its main historical figures, say politicians and local news media.
The Congress Party invited, to the event on Nehru, the main Indian parties, including the left, but not the BJP and Modi in particular because, in its view, tries to minimize the role played by Gandhi in the country's history, which Nehru is the founding figure.
On October 31, when marking the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the 139 birthday of Patel, Modi was visibly succinct when alluding to the first head of government of the South Asian nation and passionately praised Patel's ideology akin to Hindu nationalism advocated by the BJP.
A few days before, Modi had suggested that Patel was best leader than Nehru, which was considered an affront by the members of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that lead the PCI.
Called 'Iron Man of India', Patel is remembered primarily for his contribution to the unity of the country after independence from the British Empire in August 1947.
Leading the Indian delegation to the conference is Rahul Gandhi, great-grandson of Nehru, Indira's grandson and son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Rahul was beaten across the line by Modi in last May elections.
The opening session will be headed by Sonia Gandhi, widow of Rajiv and the most influential figure of the Congress Party, while the closing will be conducted by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.(KH)
