After India’s independence, Jawaharlal Nehru becames the Prime Minister of India and he was at the helm of power for more than one and half decade. After his death, Indira Gandhi took the reign of Congress and after Rajiv Gandhi no other ‘Gandhi’ has ascended the throne of Prime Minister.

In all these years, it wasn’t that Congress never brought Nehru’s name in the public domain, but direct reference from Congress has been pretty uncommon. In this regard, BJP has been way ahead in trying to defame Jawaharlal Nehru while defending brand Hindutva. There is no denying the fact that BJP is promoting itself as the sole saviour of the Hindus around the world. Thus to promote Hindutva, they need a capable opposition.

This is why, time and again, PM Narendra Modi has been bringing Nehru reference. Thus Nehru is back in the headlines yet again and that too by the BJP only. BJP became a laughing stock during Karnataka Election for comprehensive Nehru blame game. PM Modi even criticised Nehru for not visiting Bhagat Singh in jail and even took the name of former two police chiefs from Karnataka, who were insulted by Nehru.

Why does BJP need Nehru to promote Hindutva as a political organ? This is indeed a big mystery. In other ways, it is easier to portray Congress as minority appeasing party and thus shaming Nehru creates a credible platform in this regard. In spite of all his damaging decisions, Jawaharlal Nehru never threatened the feeling of ‘Hindutva’.

No doubt that primarily he was more keen to become prime minister of India but it was never like the aspiratkk of representing the ‘soft’ Hindus. As often referred to, Nehru was actually ‘English by education, Muslim by culture and Hindu by accident’. Although many of his opposing compatriots have tried to reframe Jawaharlal Nehru as indifferent to Hinduism, Nehru never actually came up with a specific religious agenda.

In many of his books and autobiographies Jawaharlal Nehru has discussed the reference of specific religion. No doubt, the BJP icons like Syama Prasad Mookerjee didn’t have best relations with Jawaharlal Nehru. And historically speaking, he didn’t favour for specific religion. Thus PM Narendra Modi is not helping the party, but also helping the Congress with more discussion on Nehruvian politics.

In fact, Narendra Modi needs to rephrase his line of speech, otherwise he is creating more dilemma wiith in the party with regard to Jawaharlal Nehru. If BJP has to proceed with Hindutva, the party needs to concentrate on present political situation. It is much better for Narendra Modi to criticize Rahul Gandhi than bringing Jawaharlal Nehru’s name while evoking Hinditva the sentiment.