In an interview with IANS, Dev dismantled the Congress narrative on independence. He mocked Nehru’s ‘jail’ as a three-room suite with Parisian laundry services, emphasizing the lack of any major movements post-1942 Quit India.

‘Name one Congress leader besides Lala Lajpat Rai who truly contributed to freedom,’ Dev demanded. He accused the party of pledging loyalty to Queen Victoria and aligning with the British through the Cabinet Mission, all to position Nehru as PM.

Dev’s sharpest barbs targeted post-independence anomalies: Mountbatten’s extended Viceroy tenure, British generals commanding Indian forces for five years, and even the Navy under British control. ‘Congress’s ‘friendly match’ with the British is evident from these facts,’ he said, calling for an honest reckoning of history.

Amit Shah’s tribute on social media captured Rai’s essence: his life offered for freedom transformed a divided movement into a unified force. Shah noted Rai’s influence on revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and his lifelong commitment to societal upliftment through education and economic self-reliance.

Yogi Adityanath portrayed Rai as an epitome of bravery and patriotism. In his X post, the UP CM lauded Rai’s tireless social activism and Swadeshi advocacy, urging today’s generation to emulate his nation-first ethos.

Rekha Gupta, Delhi’s CM, praised Rai’s multifaceted contributions. ‘His struggles infused new vigor into the freedom battle, with lasting impacts in Swadeshi, social cohesion, education, and economic empowerment for the marginalized,’ she said, vowing continued inspiration from his dedication.

Haryana’s Nayab Singh Saini evoked Rai’s heroic defiance against colonial oppression. Recalling his protest against the Simon Commission, Saini affirmed that Rai’s Swadeshi zeal and contributions to nation-building are etched eternally in Indian history.

Rai’s journey from a Lahore lawyer to a national icon included founding the Servants of the People Society and authoring influential works on India’s future. His 1928 sacrifice, where police brutality hastened his end, galvanized youth into action. These tributes not only commemorate history but reinforce Rai’s ideals of unity and self-dependence in contemporary India.