Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Claim
During a recent campaign rally, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making provocative statements to distract voters. She specifically questioned whether the Congress had ever taken away people’s gold or mangalsutras during its 55 years in power.
Vadra highlighted her grandmother Indira Gandhi’s sacrifice, claiming that she had donated her gold to the country during the 1962 war. She also mentioned that her mother Sonia Gandhi’s mangalsutra had been sacrificed for the nation.
Historical Context
In 1962, China launched a full-scale attack on India, prompting Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to appeal to the public for donations. He specifically requested women to contribute their jewelry to the National Defence Fund (NDF).
The NDF was established to manage voluntary donations in cash and kind to support India’s defense efforts. It reportedly received over Rs 22 crore in donations.
Indira Gandhi’s Contribution
According to an essay by Dr. Shashi Kumar Singh on the Indian National Congress website, Indira Gandhi, Nehru’s daughter, dedicated all her jewelry to the NDF during the war.
Fate of the Gold Donations
However, it is important to note that many of the gold ornaments and jewelry donated to the Defence of India Fund during the 1962 war remain stored in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India. This suggests that the donated gold was not used to fund the war effort as originally intended.
Conclusion
While it is true that Indira Gandhi and many others donated their gold to the NDF during the 1962 war, the claim that this gold was used to fund the war is not entirely accurate. A substantial portion of the donated gold remains unused in RBI vaults.
