Sonia and Rahul Gandhi at the Talkatora stadium on Thursday. Picture by Ramakant Kushwaha

New Delhi, Nov. 13: Apprehension rather than a sense of celebration dominated the mood as the Congress gathered at the Talkatora stadium today as part of Jawaharlal Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary celebrations,

If the threat facing Nehru’s legacy was the principal subject of discussion, Congress leaders upped the ante by insinuating that the government of the day was conspiring to demolish what he stood for.

“Today there is a fierce attempt to wipe out the Nehruvian perspective. The forces which are behind this intend to target not only the persona of Nehru but his ideology, his vision, his struggles, his achievements and his contributions,” Sonia Gandhi said after the party took a public pledge to protect all these.

Sheila Dikshit, former Delhi chief minister and head of the celebration committee, administered the pledge.

“We have to go back with the resolve to fight the ideology, the organisations and individuals who intend to destroy the foundations of a liberal India that Nehru laid,” Sonia said.

“We have to infuse fresh relevance into Nehru’s legacy with our creative interpretation of his goals.”

Rahul Gandhi too referred to the politics of hatred and anger while declaring: “Intolerant people are running the country today.”

He recalled Nehru’s words after his long imprisonment at Allahabad’s Naini jail to emphasise that independent India’s foundations were built on peaceful resistance, not hatred and intolerance.

“Nehru thanked the British for sending him to jail and keeping him in isolation. He said that that experience had removed anger from his heart. Nehru wrote, ‘The more you suppressed me, the more I was filled with patriotism’.”

Rahul accused the new government of weakening the foundations of a secular and progressive India. He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Clean India mission.

“The house is being whitewashed but the foundations are weakened. Roads are being cleaned but they are spreading hatred in society,” he said.

“Cleaning roads creates a good photo opportunity but a weak foundation will help our enemies. Only the Congress, which is committed to peace and social amity, will be able to fight these forces.”

Sonia asked Congress workers to turn themselves into courageous and secular soldiers.

“Unite, strengthen the party. Reach out to people, connect with them, give voice to their concerns, share their joys and sorrows. Had Nehru been here today, he would have told you to fight communal forces, save India’s soul.”

She said the Congress had weathered many storms and every crisis had infused the party with greater vigour. Her praise of Nehru sometimes appeared to be veiled barbs at Modi.

“Nehru’s position in Indian politics and society was unique. A leader could have taken the country in any direction with that kind of control and power. But Nehru was animated by the passion for liberty and justice,” she said.

“He tried to take India on a path where institutions got prominence over individuals and politics accommodated different shades of opinions and interests.”

Sonia credited Nehru with being the architect of India’s strong democratic institutions, secular and pluralist society, economic progress and independent foreign policy.

Rahul criticised RSS leaders’ lack of foresight, saying they had opposed English when the British left India and that it was Nehru’s vision that allowed the country to progress in science and technology and become a global IT power today.

The party pledged to protect Nehruvian values to save India from forces practising divisive and communal politics. Tomorrow, the party will celebrate Nehru’s birth anniversary throughout the country.

A yearlong calendar of events has been drawn up to educate the young about Nehru’s vision and contribution to nation-building processes. A two-day commemorative international conference will be held on November 17 and 18.