BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from Vijayapura, Karnataka has given a controversial statement regarding Mahatma Gandhi, which has created an uproar in political circles. He said that Gandhi is not the Father of the Nation of India, but of Pakistan. Also, those who did not sing Vande Mataram or did not salute the motherland were advised to go to Pakistan. Opposition parties have expressed strong objection to this statement, while BJP itself has maintained distance.
We do not consider Gandhi as the Father of the Nation: Yatnal
Speaking at a public meeting, Yatnal said, ‘Those who will not sing Vande Mataram or salute the motherland, should go to Pakistan, which Gandhi has given you. If you want to live in this country, you will have to say Vande Mataram, otherwise take Gandhi with you and go to Pakistan. Ambedkar is enough for us. Our Gandhi is not the Father of the Nation of India. He is the Father of the Nation of Pakistan. We do not consider him the father of our nation. We also do not consider Nehru as our first Prime Minister. Our first Prime Minister was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Yatnal’s statement creates stir in political circles
This statement of Yatnal challenges the beliefs of Indian history. Mahatma Gandhi is officially considered the Father of the Nation, while Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had formed the Azad Hind Fauj and declared himself ‘Prime Minister’, but this was in Singapore in 1943, when India was not independent. Historians say that such statements are made for political gain, but they misrepresent the facts.
Reacting to Yatnal’s statement, Congress leader and former minister Priyank Kharge said, ‘This statement is an insult to Gandhi’s contribution. Gandhi gave independence to the entire country, the partition of Pakistan was the result of British policies. Why doesn’t BJP take action against such MLAs? At the same time, TMC’s Mamata Banerjee has called it ‘divisive politics’.
BJP distanced itself from Yatnal’s statement
BJP has distanced itself from Yatnal’s statement. Party state president BY Vijayendra said, ‘This is the personal opinion of the MLA, the party has nothing to do with it. We respect both Gandhi and Ambedkar. However, some BJP leaders are personally supporting Yatnal, which points towards internal discord in the party. Yatnal is considered close to former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and has many times given statements going beyond the party line.
This statement may resonate in the upcoming session of the Karnataka Assembly, where the opposition may attack the BJP. It remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against Yatnal. Political analysts believe that such statements are part of the politics of polarization, which increases before elections.
