In a veiled dig at the Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India’s political discourse has moved beyond crediting a single family for the nation’s development, as he inaugurated statues of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknow.
Without naming the Gandhis, Modi said the Congress era was marked by disrespect towards senior BJP leaders. Drawing a contrast between the two parties, he said the BJP believes in honouring all leaders who contributed to nation-building, regardless of political affiliation.
The Prime Minister cited examples such as former President Pranab Mukherjee and ex-Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, while also stressing that leaders like Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel are now being given their rightful place in India’s history.
Marking the birth anniversaries of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya, Modi said December 25 holds special significance for the country. “It is a remarkable coincidence that two great sons of the nation were born on this day,” he said.
Referring to Vajpayee and Malaviya as Bharat Ratna awardees, the Prime Minister said both leaders safeguarded India’s identity, unity and pride, leaving a lasting impact on the nation’s development.
On Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary, Modi inaugurated the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, a large memorial complex featuring 65-foot-tall bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mookerjee and Upadhyaya. The site also includes a lotus-shaped, state-of-the-art museum spread over nearly 98,000 square feet.
The museum traces India’s national journey and highlights the contributions of these leaders through immersive and digital displays aimed at offering visitors an interactive learning experience.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and several other senior leaders.