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Last Updated: April 15, 2025, 19:13 IST
The BJP Claims Congress Overlooks Historical Figures Outside the Gandhi Clan
(Left) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hosted actor Akshay Kumar, who portrays Sankaran Nair in the upcoming film Kesari 2. (X)
The film Kesari Chapter 2 features Akshay Kumar in the role of Sankaran Nair and opens with powerful depictions of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Despite the controversy surrounding many historical narratives, the reality remains that Nair, a barrister known for challenging British rule, is relatively unknown to mainstream audiences.
Akshay Kumar himself remarked, “Prior to being cast in this film, I was not familiar with Nair’s legacy. This is surprising given my background in Punjab and my visits to Jallianwala Bagh.”
Hardeep Singh Puri encouraged Congress leaders to view the film, suggesting that it offers valuable historical insights.
It was a privilege for our team that you attended our screening, @HardeepSPuri sir. We hope this film brings greater awareness to the courageous efforts of C. Sankaran Nair. Rab raakha https://t.co/j5rIUr3BDR— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 15, 2025
The film avoids overt political commentary, focusing instead on the emotional and dramatic aspects of a courtroom setting without delving into Nair’s political background as a Congress president or his affiliations.
Despite this neutral approach, Kesari 2 has sparked a political conflict, particularly between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party. Prime Minister Modi has remarked that Congress appears fixated on the Nehru-Gandhi lineage.
The BJP asserts that figures outside the Gandhi family, such as Sardar Patel, Savarkar, Subhash Chandra Bose, and now Sankaran Nair, are consistently overlooked by Congress. So far, the response from Congress has been limited, with Shashi Tharoor being one of the few to recognize Nair’s historical significance.
With the Kerala elections approaching in 2026, the BJP is poised to leverage this narrative to criticize Congress for its alleged disregard of influential historical figures.
The BJP claims that the Gandhis are utilizing Kerala merely as a strategic foothold for gaining parliamentary seats. The absence of Nair in Congress’s historical discourse further strengthens this critique.
Additionally, the BJP is likely to tap into sentiments among Sikh and Punjabi communities in light of the film’s subject matter.
As emotions surrounding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre resurface, the BJP aims to galvanize support in Punjab, particularly to counter the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
With Kesari 2, the BJP aspires to reshape public perception and influence the political narrative in both regions.
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