Recent remarks by Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a BJP MLA from Karnataka, have sparked significant political debates and disagreements. Addressing a public assembly in the state, Patil made the claim that Jawaharlal Nehru wasn’t India’s first Prime Minister; rather, it was Subhash Chandra Bose who held that honor.
This incendiary statement by the BJP legislator has inevitably heated up the political atmosphere in Karnataka, drawing reactions from multiple quarters. Patil further contended that, according to a book by Baba Saheb, India didn’t achieve independence due to hunger strikes or pacifist movements. Instead, it was the looming threat and fear of Subhash Chandra Bose that was pivotal in granting India its independence.
Basanagouda Patil isn’t a newcomer to making controversial remarks. Previously as well, he has stirred the pot with his statements. He has pointed to internal disputes within the Congress party as the primary reason for such historical ambiguities.
Delving deeper into his address, Patil emphasized that the narrative of India gaining freedom solely because of non-violent protests and hunger strikes was an oversimplified version of history. Instead, he attributed a significant part of the success to the relentless efforts and aggressive strategies of leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose.
Reiterating his claims about the position of the first Prime Minister, the BJP MLA was firm in his stance that Nehru wasn’t the first to hold the title. According to him, it was Bose who should be acknowledged as the premier Prime Minister of India. He underscored his point by citing the internal conflicts within the Congress party at the time as a contributing factor to this historical oversight.