New Delhi: A political storm has erupted as the Congress party is demanding an apology from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, citing entries from Maniben Patel's diary to refute claims he made regarding Jawaharlal Nehru and the Babri Masjid. The controversy stems from Singh's assertion that India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to use public funds to build the Babri Masjid, a claim the Congress party vehemently denies.
The Congress party has responded sharply, accusing the Defence Minister of spreading "falsehoods" and distorting history to curry favor with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, shared excerpts from a book containing the diary entries of Maniben Patel, daughter of Vallabhbhai Patel, on social media platform X. Ramesh highlighted the discrepancy between the original diary entries and what Singh and his supporters are propagating. He presented screenshots of the relevant pages from the book 'Samarpit Padchhayo Sardarno' by C.A. R.S. Patel 'Aaresh', published by the Sardar Patel Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial Society in 2025.
"There is a huge difference between what is contained in the original diary entry and what Rajnath Singh ji and his fellow 'distorians' are propagating," Ramesh stated. He insisted that the Defence Minister must apologize for spreading falsehoods to improve his relationship with the Prime Minister.
Singh made the initial claim during a gathering in Sadhli village, Gujarat, alleging that Nehru wanted to use public funds for the Babri Masjid, but Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel prevented it. The BJP has defended Singh's statement, citing the book 'Inside Story of Sardar Patel: The Diary of Maniben Patel, 1936-50' as the source. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi stated that the diary contains an entry where Nehru raised the issue of the Babri Masjid, but Patel clarified that government funds could not be used for its construction, unlike the Somnath Temple's reconstruction, which was funded by public donations through a trust.
The Congress party has dismissed Singh's claim as a "lie" and a "WhatsApp university story," urging the Defence Minister not to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's path. They argue that Singh's statement is an attempt to divert attention from contemporary issues. The conflicting narratives hinge on the interpretation of Maniben Patel's diary, which spans from 1936 until Sardar Patel's death in 1950 and provides detailed insights into the early years of independent India. The diary is seen as a crucial historical record offering intimate details about the crucial early years of independent India.
