African leaders teach Modi history lesson - fondly remember Nehru and NAM

Nehru: Ignored by India but remembered byAfrica

October 30, 2015, NewsCrunch

Narendra Modi studiously skipped any reference to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during his two speeches at the Indo-African summit on Thursday.

But several African leaders found the occasion fit to pay tribute to Nehru, probably embarrassing Modi and BJP, who see it as their mission to wipe India clean of any Congress influence.

Nehru, who contributed immensely to Africa's anti-colonial struggle and Non Aligned Movement, remains a popular figure in Africa.

In the conference attended by 40 African nations, as many as six visiting leaders made glowing references to Nehru in their speech, reports The Telegraph.

South African President Jacob Zuma called Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi "visionary" Prime Ministers, while Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe praised the Congress.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI, Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ghana President John Dramani Mahama and Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth were others who recalled the leadership Nehru provided to developing countries.
Congress had boycotted the Prime Minister's dinner for visiting leaders on Wednesday complaining that Modi was trying to sideline Nehru's contribution to building India's relationship with Africa.