Rising intolerance has put a question mark on Indira Gandhi's idea of India: Rahul Gandhi

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said rising intolerance has thrown former prime minister Indira Gandhi's idea of India into question.

He made this comment at an award function organized here on the 33rd death anniversary of late prime minister.

"Idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by rising intolerance that we see today. A view of Indianness that is one-sided, discriminatory, even warped is being thrust upon us and this country," Rahul Gandhi said.

Without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he said, " The country's heritage is in the hands of those who are bent on rewriting history, imposing falsehood and unscientific ideas on our people."

He exhorted people to fight against forces of darkness.

"Like her (Indira Gandhi), we must all be unfazed and undaunted against forces of darkness," Gandhi said.

Remembering his grandmother, Rahul said, "She led India through many transformations that are too numerous to count here. Above all, she fought for the unity and integrity of our country."

The Congress leader asserted that the precious idea of integration has never been more necessary than today.

"In today's time when the country finds itself increasingly divided in the name of narrow nationalism, the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration is the recognition of the values she stood for," Rahul said.

Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh also spoke on the occasion.

"It was Indira Gandhi's firm belief that without social harmony and understanding of each other among India's diverse people, it was not possible for our country to grow and prosper," Dr. Singh said.

He also launched a veiled attack on the ruling BJP and the RSS.

"Our society is facing a danger of deepening divisions. True patriotism demands that we adopt the path shown by Indira Gandhi and work for social and regional cohesion, even as we celebrate our diversity," the former prime minister said.

Vocalist T M Krishna received the 2017 Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration. He is a vocalist in the Karnatik tradition and speaks and writes about issues affecting humans and on matters cultural.