'Daro mat': BJP demands return Nehru's letters, including those to Edwina Mountbatten
BJP on Saturday urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his mother, Sonia Gandhi, to return 51 cartons of correspondence belonging to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library (PMML), alleging that the documents were taken away from the institution in 2008.BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan made the appeal on Nehru's birth anniversary, saying the letters formed part of India's documentary heritage and should be available to researchers and the public through the museum.In a post on X, Kesavan questioned why the documents had not been returned and invoked Rahul Gandhi's frequently used slogan, "Daro Mat" (Do not be afraid), asking him to ensure their return."At least on Nehru’s birth anniversary today, will Rahul Gandhi and the Congress first family have the courage to stop acting contrary to the national interest and return the 51 cartons containing Nehru’s correspondence which rightfully belong to the country?" Kesavan said.He added that the correspondence included letters exchanged between Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten, as well as communications with other prominent individuals.
Kesavan alleged that the Congress leadership's failure to return the papers would strengthen suspicions about why they were withdrawn from the institution."These letters are a part of the country’s documentary heritage and not somebody’s private property and need to be given back to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML)," he said.Kesavan claimed that the documents had been donated to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in 1971 but were taken back by Sonia Gandhi in May 2008, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power.
He also questioned the absence of any mention of the matter in her recent memoir.PMML has been seeking return of documents since 2008The dispute over the custody of Nehru's papers has continued for several years. In September 2024, Rizwan Kadri, a member of the PMML Society, wrote to Sonia Gandhi seeking the return of the 51 cartons or permission to digitise the documents and obtain scanned copies for research.Kadri said the material came from around eight sections of the Nehru collection and included correspondence between Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten, as well as letters exchanged with former Union minister Govind Ballabh Pant, socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan and others.In 2025, Kadri also approached Rahul Gandhi, requesting the return of the documents and describing them as an important part of India's history.The Union ministry of culture clarified in December 2025 that the papers could not be described as missing because their whereabouts were known.
Culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had also said that "no document related to the first PM for the country is missing from PMML".In a post on X, the ministry said the documents had been taken back in 2008 following a request made on Sonia Gandhi's behalf. It cited a letter dated April 29, 2008, from M V Rajan, her representative, stating that she wished to take back Nehru's private family letters and notes."Accordingly, 51 cartons of Nehru Papers were sent to Smt.
Sonia Gandhi in 2008," the ministry said, adding that PMML had remained in correspondence with her office over their return.It also cited letters sent to Sonia Gandhi's office on January 28 and July 3, 2025, as part of its efforts to retrieve the papers.The ministry said the documents formed part of the country's documentary heritage and that their custody with PMML, along with access for citizens and scholars, was important.Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders pay tribute to NehruMeanwhile, Rahul Gandhi paid tribute to Nehru on his birth anniversary, describing him as the "jewel of India" and saying his vision of a modern, scientific and progressive country continued to inspire the Congress.In a post on X, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said Nehru viewed freedom as the beginning of a new national journey and believed that democracy required citizens' participation and responsibility."India was a quest, an idea for them; diversity as its strength, democracy as its faith, and equality as its foundation," Rahul said, adding that efforts to build the India Nehru had envisioned were a true tribute to him.Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described Nehru as "a revolutionary, a visionary and a builder".
She said the fact that he continued to be criticised more than six decades after his death reflected his commitment to India's Constitution and democracy.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute, recalling Nehru's contributions to building a modern and democratic nation. He highlighted Nehru's faith in equality, secularism and scientific thinking, as well as his commitment to children's education.Nehru was born on November 14, 1889, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
He became India's first prime minister after independence on August 15, 1947, and died on May 27, 1964. His birth anniversary is observed as Children's Day in India.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
