Indira Gandhi Was a Strong PM Who Instilled a Sense of National Pride: Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar, the leader of the nationalist Congress Party, referred to the late Indira Gandhi as a “powerful prime minister” who gave the nation a feeling of pride on Thursday.
He was addressing at a ceremony held by the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in this city to honour women for their outstanding achievements in a variety of sectors. The actress Shabana Azmi and her lyricist husband Javed Akhtar were also present.
“Indira Gandhi was the most effective prime minister throughout the post-Independence period, if anybody were to inquire. She gave the nation a feeling of pride, according to Pawar. He recalled how, on one occasion, when Gandhi travelled to Russia as prime minister, a subordinate minister met her at the airport rather than the head of state.
Gandhi went to the Indian ambassador’s house rather than the hotel she was scheduled to stay at because she was upset over the violation of etiquette, the man said. “Indira Gandhi made such statement to promote our sense of worth. She was a strong prime minister, therefore that’s why it occurred,” Pawar said.
It encountered opposition when he, as Maharashtra’s chief minister, submitted a measure guaranteeing women an equal participation in family property, but he won over his male colleagues and moved along with the decision, the NCP leader added.
Similar to this, Pawar added, he overcame objections to his decision to induct women into the armed services while he was defence minister.
