Nehru’s speech on Aug 15, 1947 responsible for price rise in India: MP minister

Congress went all guns blazing at Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang on Saturday after he said (first prime minister) Jawaharlal Nehru’s “wrong” speech on August 15, 1947 was responsible for worsening the economic situation and price rise in the country.

The video of the minister’s statement went viral on social media, eliciting sarcastic reactions.

Sarang, who is also a government spokesperson, said it was not in a few days that the price rise came about or the foundation of the economy was established. He added that Nehru’s “wrong” speech on India’s Independence Day from the Red Fort led to worsening of the economy. He was replying to various queries of media persons in Bhopal.

The minister also asked the Congress workers to protest before 10, Janpath (Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi’s residence in Delhi), because the credit of price rise goes to the Nehru family that attacked the economy of the country after Independence. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rather worked to improve conditions in the past six to seven years,” Sarang said.

As the video went viral, several Congress leaders took to Twitter, taking potshots at the minister.

Former minister Jaivardhan Singh tweeted the video with a sarcastic comment: “Finally it was said. Nehruji is responsible for the price rise. After all, what poor Modi ji can do? If he was the prime minister of the country, he would have done some. Nehruji, resign.”

Another former minister P.C. Sharma posted the video with the comment, “Don’t know what kind of intoxicant he uses”. Congress IT cell chief Abhay Tiwari also posted the video with a similar comment, “There is an urgent need of de-addiction drive in Madhya Pradesh”.

Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja commented on the video, calling Sarang “another promising minister of Shivraj cabinet”.

General secretary of Congress media cell K.K. Mishra said, “An eligible minister of the Shivraj circus, Vishvas Sarang is blaming a 1947 speech by Nehru ji for price rise, when he (Sarang) was not even born. As the departmental minister, he should make clear whether Nehru ji was also responsible for the thousands of deaths in Madhya Pradesh during the COVID-19 pandemic due to shortage of hospital beds, oxygen and Remdesivir.”

The Twitter handle of MP Congress also posted the video saying, “Listen to the minister of Madhya Pradesh. The speech of Nehru ji made on August 15, 1947 is responsible for the current price rise. Don’t laugh. These people cross the lines every day to consider the people fools and try to fool them.”