Kolkata Dec 29 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday dubbed attempts to distort history a "crime" and said it was a "political vendetta".
"I am always in favour of historians... and truth. Truth must prevail. To distort the history and fabricate facts is a big crime " Banerjee said at the 78th Indian History Congress.
Speaking about the "tendency to rewrite history" she alleged it was a political vendetta.
"... what for our scholars and historians? If we don t see the past how do we calculate the future.
"If you start rewriting history in the name of political vendetta what will happen to future generations " she asked.
Banerjee acknowledged the apprehensions expressed by a section of historians on the "distortion of history".
"History is the truth. It touches our heart. You cannot distort recorded history. I know historians are unhappy. I know the present situation. We must respect our federal structure and Constitution. Truth will always remain truth " she added.
Stressing that it is not a "one party rule" she spoke of a "calculated motive" in the attempts to distort history.
"I feel sad when I see that rewriting is going on. It is a calculative motive when we see that Mahatma Gandhi may not be (portrayed as) a patriot but Godse is a patriot " she added.
--IANS
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