Condemning distortion of history, CM Pinarayi Vijayan slams PM's Independence Day speech
'The attempt to portray the RSS, which was banned following Gandhi's assassination and V D Savarkar, who stood trial in the murder conspiracy, as major contributors of Indian independence is a blatant distortion of history. Choosing Independence Day to glorify those who served the British amounts to insulting our freedom struggle,' said the chief minister.
Pinarayi Vijayan said no such shameful act can whitewash the RSS, which he described as a communal organisation with a divisive past. He called the Prime Minister's act of praising the RSS on a day that symbolises national unity 'show of contempt for the very day'.
Citing the Union Ministry of Petroleum's Independence Day greeting card that placed Savarkar's image above Mahatma Gandhi's, the CM said this was part of a larger conspiracy. 'This anxiety comes from fear of the true history of India's freedom struggle,' he said.
He recalled that India's independence movement was one that saw people of every caste, religion, language, and culture standing together. 'In contrast, the RSS wore the cloak of espionage,' he added.
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Hindustan Times
a few seconds ago
- Hindustan Times
As Shubhanshu Shukla returns home, Parliament plans special discussion on mission on Monday
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Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
SAD rebel faction seeks reopening of Kartarpur Corridor
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Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shubhanshu Shukla set to return home today; Parl plans special session on mission
The Lok Sabha on Monday will hold a special discussion on India's space journey and Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), according to a notice issued by the Lower House. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and union minister Jitendra Singh receive astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on his arrival at the IGI airport, in New Delhi, early Sunday,(PTI) The House will debate on 'India's first astronaut aboard the ISS –– critical role of space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047', a subject that can possibly end the deadlock in Parliament to hail India's new milestone in space journey. Shukla landed in New Delhi in the early hours of Sunday following his two-week long mission aboard the ISS in June-July. The session has been scheduled amid the Opposition's efforts to raise the issue of alleged manipulation of voter lists and the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Opposition leaders have sought a discussion over the SIR issue. However, the government has taken a stand that the House cannot take up a discussion on the matter as the case is sub judice in the Supreme Court and relates to Election Commission of India (ECI), an autonomous body, Protests over the same have led to the transaction of limited business in Parliament. 'But, given the nature of the debate on Shukla's journey to the ISS, there is a scope that the Opposition may join the discussion,' a senior Congress leader said on anonymity. In June, Shukla became the second Indian to go to space –– after IAF wing commander Rakesh Sharma –– as part of the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. He returned to Earth on July 16. Alongside Shukla, the Ax-4 mission marked the return to human spaceflight programme for India, Poland and Hungary in over four decades. Representing the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), Shukla's return with all the learnings and experience from the Ax-4 mission is an important step for the Gaganyaan mission and setting up the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (the Indian Space Station). In her address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu mentioned Shukla's feat and said, 'I am sure that Shubhanshu Shukla's space journey to the International Space Station has fired a whole generation to dream bigger. It will prove extremely helpful for India's upcoming human space flight program, 'Gaganyaan'.' The Department of Space described Shukla's mission as one of 'strategic importance' and India's resolve to emerge as a serious contender in human space exploration. During his address on the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Shukla's historic visit. 'Every citizen of the country is seeing the wonders of the space sector and is filled with pride. And our Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned from the space station. He is also coming to India in a few days. We are also preparing for Aatmanirbhar Bharat Gaganyaan on our own in space. We are working towards building our own space station on our own,' he said.
