After his submit in assist of Rahul Gandhi, Ro Khanna was reminded on social media that his late grandfather Vidyalankar, a Gandhian, was a supporter of Indira Gandhi in the course of the time of Emergency.
| Photo Credit: Twitter/@RoKhanna
U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna has come out in assist of his late maternal grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar, who drew flak on social media just lately for supporting former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the course of the Emergency, asserting, “Attack me. Don’t attack India’s freedom fighters.”
Last week, Mr. Khanna, a Democrat, termed Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha as a “deep betrayal” of Gandhian philosophy.
Mr. Gandhi, the previous Congress president, was disqualified from the Lok Sabha final week, after a courtroom in Surat within the state of Gujarat convicted him in a defamation case.
“The expulsion of Rahul Gandhi from parliament is a deep betrayal of Gandhian philosophy and India’s deepest values,” Mr. Khanna stated in a latest tweet.
“This is not what my grandfather sacrificed years in jail for,” the 46-year-old Indian-American politician added.
After his submit in assist of Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Khanna was reminded on social media that his late grandfather Vidyalankar, a Gandhian, was a supporter of former prime minister Indira Gandhi in the course of the time of Emergency.
“Though it seems as if Ro has forgotten that Amarnath Vidyalankar [his grandfather], an INC loyalist, was part of Indira Gandhi’s govt during the harsh period of emergency in India. He did not oppose the brutal atrocities on Indian masses during the Emergency,” according to a post by The Pamphlet on Twitter.
In response, Mr. Khanna tweeted: “It’s sad to see people maligning my grandfather who worked for Lala Lajpat Rai, was jailed in 31-32 and 41-45, and wrote two letters to Indira Gandhi opposing the Emergency, leaving parliament right after. Attack me. Don’t attack India’s freedom fighters. And facts matter.”
Describing Vidyalankar as “great son of the soil,” the All India Radio in its documentary celebrating “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava” hailed him as a “social worker and freedom fighter” born in pre-partition Punjab.
Educated at an Arya Samaj educational institution, Vidyalankar devoted his life to the non-cooperation movement after he completed his education.
Mr. Khanna represents Silicon Valley in the U.S. House of Representatives.
On Sunday, Mr. Khanna ruled out running for the vacant U.S. Senate seat from California and extended his support to his fellow Democratic lawmaker Barbara Lee.
“I’ve concluded that, regardless of numerous enthusiasm from Bernie people, the most effective place, probably the most thrilling place, motion place for me to serve as a progressive within the House of Representatives, and I’m honoured to be co-chairing Barbara Lee’s marketing campaign for the Senate and endorsing her right now,” Mr. Khanna told CNN in an interview.
He is co-chairing the election campaign of Congresswoman Lee running for the Senate seat in California.
