Delhi: : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday launched a sharp political attack at the Centre during the unveiling of a bust of India’s last Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan. C. Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji, was an Indian freedom fighter, senior Congress leader and the last Governor-General of independent India, and his bust was unveiled at Rashtrapati Bhavan to honour his role in India’s freedom movement and early nation-building.
Raut questioned the government’s repeated references to ending “ghulami” (colonial mindset), arguing that such claims contradict India’s present-day foreign and defence decisions. He said aligning closely with former US President Donald Trump, going ahead with the India–US trade deal, and purchasing Rafale fighter jets from France weaken the narrative of rejecting foreign dependence.
The Rajya Sabha MP also said that the development of New Delhi was a collective effort involving many contributors over time, including figures often criticised in political debates today. His remarks come amid ongoing political sparring between the opposition and the ruling party over nationalism, foreign policy choices, and historical interpretation.
