THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP and RSS cannot absolve themselves of the responsibility of the attack on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and it only displays the fascist face of the forces, said former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Saturday. “The Prime Minister didn’t even deplore the attack. The BJP leadership should own up the responsibility of the attack and apologise to the people,” he said.Chandy was speaking at Indira Bhavan, while inaugurating a photo exhibition,’Indira Gandhi: A historical portrait which time could not erase,’ organised as part of the birth centenary fete of the slain former Premier. Chandy inaugurated a book exhibition organised by Priyadarshini Publications. He said it was the Congress which had laid the foundation for all growth and achievements in the country.
“The Gandhi family had made yeomen contribution in the Independence struggle and for developing post-Independent India.
“The photo exhibition depicting various facets of the life and personality of Indira Gandhi is truly worthy,” he said.During the last three years of the BJP-led NDA Government’s rule, there were consistent attempts to belittle national leaders Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, KPCC president M M Hassan said. He called upon all those who stand by secularism and democratic values to counter physical attacks carried out by the BJP-RSS against political opponents.
In the evening, Aswathy Tirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bai of the Travancore royal family inaugurated a women’s empowerment meet.