The Congress in Maharashtra left party loyalists stumped on Monday after the December issue of party mouthpiece Congress Darshan criticised Sonia Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Multiple articles were published criticising Nehru’s policies and calling Sonia Gandhi’s father Stefano Maino a fascist soldier. An article also described Gandhi’s failed attempt at forming a government in 1997 after being elected party president just 62 days after becoming a member.

The article on Nehru’s policies claimed the Kashmir issue would not be as bad as it currently is if the former prime minister had consulted his deputy, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The piece pays tribute to Patel on his December 15 death anniversary, NDTV reported. Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who is editor of the publication, clarified that the articles are a mistake, and their being published would be looked into. NDTV reported that the party will also launch an inquiry into the incident. Congress leader Salman Khurshid is among those who clarified that Nehru played a pivotal role in the country's freedom movement, and said the article was a mistake. Shashi Tharoor also added that India's freedom is part of the legacy of leaders like Nehru.