Kerala Congress Leader Irks Ally Muslim League With Nehru-RSS Remark

His remark drew sharp criticism from key Congress partner Muslim League (IUML) and the ruling CPI(M).

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran on Monday said India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was a great leader who had shown his "magnanimity" to include RSS leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in his Cabinet, drawing sharp criticism from key Congress partner Muslim League (IUML) and the ruling CPI(M). Mr Sudhakaran made the remarks while addressing a Children's Day programme organised by the Kannur DCC to celebrate the birth anniversary of Nehru, days after his revelation that he had given protection to RSS shakhas decades ago, irking the Muslim League.

"The generous gesture he (Nehru) made to include Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, an RSS leader, in his cabinet; his magnanimity to align with communal fascism...the leader who showed the nation the great values of democracy...We have to learn a lot from Nehru, we have to understand a lot from him, one has to read and learn about him to know about his mind," the KPCC chief said.

Mr Sudhakaran also said Nehru gave the responsibility of making the Constitution to Dr BR Ambedkar, who was not a Congress leader.

Nehru also made Ambedkar the Law Minister in his government. Mukherjee was inducted as a Minister for Industry and Supply by Nehru in the interim government he had formed after independence. Mukherjee quit the government in 1951 and founded Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the political wing of RSS. He was the founder-president of Jana Sangh, considered to be the earlier avatar of the BJP.