New Delhi, Oct 31 (Agency) Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson and author Tushar Gandhi has said that in contemporary politics, activities like installing schemes or putting up statues in the honor of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhai Patel is part of symbolic politics and these great leaders are remembered for getting political millage. No effort is being made to follow the thoughts and path of both the leaders. In conversation with UNI, on being asked, does he hold the then Home Minister Sardar Patel responsible for the lapse in Bapu’s security before the assassination? In reply to this, Tushar Gandhi said that it is true that there was a lapse in Bapu’s security and even though the police officers and other people related to the security were directly responsible, but Sardar Patel was then the Union Home Minister of the country, so the questions can be raised regarding his leadership.
Tushar Gandhi has recently filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court against the government’s Rs 1200 crore plan for the redevelopment of Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and sought a stay on it. Tushar Gandhi argues that the Sabarmati Ashram is a symbol of Gandhi’s simplicity and ideas. People from all over the world come to see and experience it. If the Ashram is developed and modernized as a tourist destination, then the importance of that place will be lost. Tushar said that in principle it was assumed that there would be no direct interference of the government in the institutions or monuments associated with Bapu. Later, the use of government money for needs was approved, but with the condition that it would remain only as a donor, not in a decisive role. But in the redevelopment program of Sabarmati, the government is taking all the decisions and only two to four Gandhians have been kept in the Governing Council and the Executive Council, that too only as a consultant. We do not see any need for change in this ashram.
With spending so much money, the government is only trying to project their devotion toward Gandhi, but everyone knows about the beliefs and conduct of this government. On being asked about the controversy surrounding Vinayak Damodardas Savarkar’s apology on advice of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi said that I have no objection to Savarkar’s apology, because it was his legal right, but if the question is of Gandhi, then Savarkar apologized in 1911 and 1913 and till then Gandhi had not even came to India and was fighting in South Africa. Wouldn’t you consider Savarkar, who was in Andaman jail for so long as a freedom fighter? In reply to this the great-grandson said that Savarkar’s life should be seen in two parts, first when he was in jail, there was no hesitation in considering him as a freedom fighter at that time. But a person is judged not only by his struggle, but by his destination in the end. Savarkar never participated in the freedom struggle after apologizing, moreover he supported the British, so the assessment should be done accordingly. On the demand of giving Bharat Ratna to Savarkar, Tushar Gandhi in a taunt said Nathuram Godse should also be given Bharat Ratna along with Savarkar.