Need to broaden list of leaders honoured through stamps: Government

Standing firm on its decision to discontinue two postal stamps on former prime ministers -- and Congress leaders -- Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the union government on Wednesday said the Centre wanted to expand the list of leaders to be so honoured.

"The Congress wants to see the world through a single glass, (but) we do not," union Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

Pointing out that Indira Gandhi had been honoured with four commemorative stamps, Rajiv Gandhi with two and Jawaharlal Nehru with seven, the minister said there was no other family respected with so many commemorative stamps.

He said India was a symbol of diversity and the government aimed to increase the number of leaders that should be so honoured.

Prasad clarified that the government had not discontinued any stamp on India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The Congress on Wednesday condemned the Centre's decision to discontinue two postal stamps on Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

"It reflects a very narrow mindset of this government. It is an insult to history. We condemn the approach and attitude of this government towards the Gandhis who have sacrificed a lot for the nation," senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said.