‘Insulting Intelligence of Rahul Gandhi’s Predecessors’: Sharmistha hits back at Danish Ali’s “love for RSS” remark

A day after Congress MP Danish Ali accused the Centre of engaging in “dirty politics” over its decision to establish a memorial for Pranab Mukherjee, linking it to the former President’s supposed “love for the RSS,” his daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, responded by saying that the comment reflected Ali’s ignorance and lack of understanding of the party’s history.

Sharmistha Mukherjee said, “People, whether it’s Danish Ali or others making such statements, are likely trying to please Rahul Gandhi. In doing so, they are insulting the wisdom and intelligence of Rahul Gandhi’s predecessors, including Indira Gandhi, his mother Sonia Gandhi, and other senior Congress leaders like Dr Manmohan Singh.”

She said, “If Pranab Mukherjee had truly been aligned with the RSS, why would Congress have entrusted him with so many important responsibilities over 45 years? Was Indira Gandhi not intelligent enough to see through that? Was Sonia Gandhi unaware of it? These are baseless statements, and if certain Congress members are making them, it reflects their ignorance of the party’s history and the principles of parliamentary democracy.”

Sharmistha Mukherjee added, “In a parliamentary democracy, diverse ideologies can coexist, and dialogue between them is crucial—this is one of the core pillars of parliamentary democracy. Those making such remarks clearly lack understanding and are revealing their ignorance and prejudice through their statements.”

In a social media post on X, Ali had alleged that the honour was given to the former President because of “his love” for the RSS.

The Congress MP said, “The Modi government has played dirty politics with death by rejecting the entire nation’s demand for a space at the Rajghat memorial for Manmohan Singh, while granting land at the same site for Pranab Mukherjee’s memorial. This is low-level politics and a serious insult to the Prime Minister who led the country’s economic revolution.” He added, “This government’s decision is also a reward for Pranab Mukherjee’s affection for the Sangh. Pranab Mukherjee had paid his respects at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Nagpur headquarters and had conferred the title of ‘Dhartiputra’ on Sangh founder Hedgewar.”

Sharmistha Mukherjee questioned Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Vietnam during the national mourning for former Prime Minister and Congress veteran Manmohan Singh.

She said, “From an ordinary citizen’s perspective, I would like to ask him—what harm would it have caused if he hadn’t gone abroad for New Year celebrations for just one year, especially when the entire nation is in mourning for Manmohan Singh?” Earlier, the BJP had accused the Congress of insensitivity over the trip, sparking a fresh political row between the two parties.