HYDERABAD: In an obvious reference to the Nehru-Gandhi clan, Union Minister N Venkaiah Naidu today said national recognition should not be confined to just one family and the NDA government is keen on giving due recognition to the icons and great personalities, who contributed to the nation building.
Naidu also said that he is in favour of building a memorial of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, who belonged to the Congress, in the national capital.
"The NDA government is keen on giving due recognition to national icons who made great contributions to the country and opposed to the idea of highlighting a few," Naidu said while speaking at an event organised to mark the 99th birth anniversary of late Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Noting that icons like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Bal Gangadhar Tilak rendered yeoman service to the country, he said all such personalities should get recognition due to them.
On the protests by the Congress on the alleged removal from circulation of stamps featuring Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he said (as a general practice) the publication of stamps of some leaders are stopped after some time and others are started.
Observing that Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi should get recognition due to them, he said others should also get theirs. "Recognition should not be confined to just one family," he said.
"When all these (things) are done (recognising icons), it is said you are giving importance to them and removing these people (stamps featuring Indira and Rajiv Gandhi). What is wrong? Should everything and all be confined to just one family? Did others not make sacrifice for this country? Are others not ideal personalities."
Targeting the Congress leadership, he alleged that Narasimha Rao's body was not even allowed into the party office for people to pay their last respects, and added that he favoured setting up a memorial for Rao in Delhi though he fought on political lines against the former premier.
"The Modi government, NDA, is determined to see that everybody gets their due," he said.