Congress deliberately ignored PV Narasimha Rao’s tenure: Grandson N.V. Subhash

Hyderabad: Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s grandson and senior BJP leader N.V. Subhash on Wednesday lashed out at the Congress, accusing it of “deliberately chosing to ignore and attributing negative issues” to the late PM’s tenure.

During an exclusive interaction with IANS, he further accused the Gandhi family of “controlling the reins” of the Congress since the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and “ignoring” a veteran leader of the status of present party President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Excerpts from the interview:

IANS: Do you think Congress disrespected or ignored Narasimha Rao despite him leading India out of the 1991 economic crisis?

N.V. Subhash: Without him, I don’t think the Congress would have been intact in 1991 after Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination because there were too many contenders. But being a true Congressman, he ensured that the party could sail through till today.

Some people who were close to the Gandhi family felt the heat and thought that they were being ignored. So they planted negative thoughts within the Gandhi family.

The Congress deliberately chose to ignore Narasimha Rao ji’s tenure and the schemes implemented during his government so that the Gandhi family’s image would be elevated.

He (Narasimha Rao) was a senior advisor to Rajiv Gandhi and was even close to Indira Gandhi, but all the good things were attributed to the Gandhi family, while the negative things like the Babri Masjid demolition and other issues were attributed to Narasimha Rao ji’s regime.

Any senior Congress leader, without the fear of the Gandhi family, will tell in person that Rao was a good leader who helped the communities like the SCs, STs and OBCs to become real leaders.

He (Rao) never favoured his own family members nor people belonging to his caste. That is why Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi liked Narasimha Rao ji.

IANS: What difference do you see between today’s Congress and during that of Narasimha Rao?

N.V. Subhash: Earlier, whenever an issue had to be discussed — whether it related to the party, public welfare, or the national interest — there was a well-established institutional process. There was a Core Committee, a Working Committee, and several advisers from different fields. They were invited to give their frank, unbiased opinions. P.V. Narasimha Rao ji carefully considered all their views, even those of opponents.

He used to call them and ensured to listen to their advice. It was for the benefit of the party.

Today, Rahul Gandhi never listens to anyone, nor does he have any advisors. This system of meeting and taking advice from seniors is completely lost.

There is no system at all in the Congress. If you look at the BJP and other parties, there is a system in place. Whoever appeases the Gandhi family will get the post; this is not good for the party, nor for the nation.

IANS: During Narasimha Rao’s tenure, did the reins of the regime lie with someone from the Gandhi family like it is often alleged during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s term?

N.V. Subhash: No way, P.V. Narasimha Rao ji always gave credit to the Gandhi family, acknowledging the sacrifices made by leaders such as Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The issues discussed with the Congress Party’s top leadership and the advice he received from them have always been very clear.

He even went to Sonia Gandhi several times and informed her what the party and government are doing and what is being expected by the people. But she never acknowledged the sacrifices made by Narasimha Rao ji, his family members or even senior Congress leaders like Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel, BR Ambedkar, etc.

Manmohan Singh was a very good and educated person who always thought about the future of the country. He was unbiased and non-corrupt. But the switch (of the party) was at 10, Janpath (Sonia Gandhi’s official residence) and that continues even today.

I have seen more people at Sonia Gandhi’s residence than at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s house.

Today also, despite Mallikarjun Kharge being a Congress veteran, the switch lies with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

IANS: Do you think that the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and backward communities have been left behind during Congress-led UPA’s regime?

N.V. Subhash: I am talking about the Gandhi family. According to me, the Gandhi family has always disrespected the interests of OBCs, SCs, and STs. They focused on appeasing certain sections of the minority community. The Congress ruled the country for nearly 60 years. How many Dalits, SCs, and STs did they truly empower? In my opinion, they did not do enough.

They only wanted to have friendships with rich, lucrative and happening people. They could have made people from SC, ST or OBC reach pivotal positions like the Chief Minister, but they didn’t do it.

They only want votes from the Dalits, while all the important portfolios and law-making decisions went to the Gandhi family and their friends.

IANS: The Congress wants to see Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister. Do you think this will come true?

N.V. Subhash: No, because Rahul Gandhi has already been given even opportunities from 2004 to 2024. People in this country wanted someone who is really capable of delivering the goods, not interested in a parachute person or taking the name of their own family members.

Those days…Congress era is gone. Family rule is gone.

When he (Rahul Gandhi) had an opportunity to become the Prime Minister, he didn’t want to. Even when he was made the Congress President, he ran away from his responsibility.

I am not blaming him, but it is the people around him who have made him powerful…he knows his limits.

What happened to the Bharat Jodo Yatra? Where did he get seats on that?

Such a dream (of becoming the PM) will remain a dream.

IANS