Kumar Bahukhandi
US President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi (Source: John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)
PM Modi said, ‘The name of the book is JFK’S FORGOTTEN CRISIS. This book has been written by a famous foreign policy scholar. It mentions important events. This book describes in detail the discussion between India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Nehru and the then US President John F Kennedy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday fiercely targeted the opposition in the Lok Sabha. Attacking Rahul Gandhi, he commented on foreign policy and mentioned the tenure of former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Let us tell you that apart from being the Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru was also the Foreign Minister. Referring to a book (JFK’S FORGOTTEN CRISIS), PM Modi said that ‘one should read this book to know what game was going on in the name of foreign policy.’
What did PM Modi say in Lok Sabha?
PM Modi said in Lok Sabha, ‘Some people feel that until they speak on foreign policy, they do not look mature, so they should speak on foreign policy, even if it causes loss to the country. I want to tell such people that if they are really interested in foreign policy and want to understand foreign policy, then they must read a book. Maybe this will help them understand what to say where.’
PM Modi said, ‘The name of the book is JFK’S FORGOTTEN CRISIS. This book has been written by a famous foreign policy scholar. It mentions important events. This book describes in detail the discussion between India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Nehru and the then President of America John F Kennedy. When the country was facing a lot of challenges, what game was going on in the name of foreign policy is coming to light through this book.’ The author of this book is Bruce Riedel. What is written in the book
Now that we are talking about the book, the question arises that what is there in this book? Actually, this book mentions the visit of former US President John F. Kennedy to India. Along with this, the condition of India in 1962 when it was fighting a war with China has also been covered in its pages. The book outlines this entire period and brings forth many such incidents which are going to make the Congress uncomfortable. However, PM Modi did not mention these incidents in the Lok Sabha, only mentioned the name of the book.
At one place in the book, it is claimed that PM Nehru was taking more interest in John F. Kennedy’s wife rather than in him.
When the former US President came to India
This incident is from the time when US President John F. Kennedy came to India. His wife and US First Lady Jackie Kennedy were also with him. If the book is to be believed, US President John F. Kennedy had told his advisor and then US Ambassador to India Galbraith that the visit to India was the “worst state visit” of his presidential tenure. He called it the ‘worst state visit’.
He also felt that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was more interested in Jackie Kennedy (JFK’s wife) than talking to him . The US embassy had rented a separate villa for Jackie Kennedy to stay in, but when she arrived in India, Nehru insisted that she stay in a special guest suite in the Prime Minister’s residence. This was the same room that was often used by Edwina Mountbatten. Edwina, the wife of India’s last Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, was in India during the partition and continued to visit India even after independence. Edwina and Nehru are believed to have had a very close relationship. According to this book, Jackie was also getting extra care from Pandit Nehru.
‘Jackie’s photo was at the entry gate’
Similarly, in another context of the book, it is mentioned that Nehru, who was very attracted to Jackie Kennedy, used to keep only one photo at the main entrance of his house, in which he was walking with Jackie. According to another report, Nehru was more interested in JFK’s 27-year-old sister Pat Kennedy, who was considered very attractive, than Jackie.
