Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on what he described as the politics of dynasticism, asserting that attempts were made after Independence to sideline the contributions of national icons such as Babasaheb Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and that it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which worked to restore and honour their legacy.
The remarks were made after the Prime Minister inaugurated the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, a national memorial complex dedicated to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Deendayal Upadhyay. The memorial has been positioned as a space celebrating the lives and ideas of leaders associated with the BJP’s ideological lineage.
Referring to the post-Independence period, the Prime Minister said Sardar Patel’s role in unifying the country by integrating princely states was significant but was later downplayed. He said the BJP government accorded Patel due recognition by constructing the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar and institutionalising the celebration of National Unity Day on October 31 each year.
The Prime Minister also referred to initiatives undertaken to recognise contributions of tribal leaders, stating that for decades tribal communities were denied adequate recognition. He cited the construction of memorials dedicated to figures such as Birsa Munda, the Shaheed Narayan Singh Tribal Museum in Chhattisgarh, and the memorial of Maharaja Suheldev in Uttar Pradesh as steps taken to address this gap. He also referred to recognition accorded to sites linked with Nishadraj and Lord Ram.
Taking a broader swipe at dynastic politics, the Prime Minister said such politics thrives by diminishing the contributions of others while projecting the achievements of a single family. Without naming any party, his remarks were widely seen as directed at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.
Highlighting efforts to restore the legacy of other historical figures, he pointed to measures taken in honour of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, including the installation of his statue at Kartavya Path in New Delhi and the renaming of islands in the Andaman region associated with Netaji’s hoisting of the national flag.
The Prime Minister also accused previous regimes of undermining the contribution of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, stating that the BJP ensured his legacy was upheld and commemorated. The address formed part of a broader narrative emphasising recognition of national figures beyond political lineage, while reiterating the BJP’s stance against dynastic politics.
