Nehru's policies are of enduring relevance

New Delhi: In a veiled attack on Narendra Modi-led dispensation, Rahul Gandhi Tuesday slammed those who were trying to "rub out" Jawaharlal Nehru from history as an international conference on the country's first Prime Minister affirmed that democracy, inclusion and empowerment espoused by him were of "enduring relevance".

In her concluding remarks at the two-day conference called by the Congress, Party President Sonia Gandhi said as the Nehruvian concepts have come under challenge now, "we must not only adhere to what Nehru had built. We must fight and fight to strengthen democracy, inclusiveness and secularism."

Holding that Nehru's ideas were a "matter of shared interest" that concern all sections, she said the declaration reaffirms a collective commitment to nurture these views.

"We the delegates representing 20 countries, 29 political parties and organisations participating in the international conference on Nehru's world view and his legacy...Caution the world against tendencies that are divisive or which create conflict in the society," the declaration read by former President of Ghana John Kufuor said.

"As representatives of human kind, we take a solemn hope to nurture the values espoused by Nehru to pursue his vision, to imbibe his spirit and carry forward his legacy to the entire world to privilege peace and reject violence in all our activities..." it further said.

The conference which sought to highlight the legacy and world view of Nehru was attended by a host of international leaders and representatives of various political parties from India and abroad.