Fresh row over Raut’s remarks on Savarkar
› Those who oppose Savarkar, whether it is due to ideology or differences, should be made to spend time at the Cellular Jail...
SANJAY RAUT, Senior Sena leader
MUMBAI: Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that those opposing the Bharat Ratna for Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar should spend some time in the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar, sparking yet another row.
Raut’s statement followed Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan’s contention that his party will oppose the Bharat Ratna to Savarkar.
“Those who oppose Savarkar, whether it is due to ideology or differences, should be made to spend time at the Cellular Jail…These people will realise the sacrifice and hardships he faced there,” said Raut.
Within hours, the Congress said supporters of Savarkar should visit the jail to understand the sacrifice made by those freedom fighters who never apologised to the British.
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the BJP can grant the highest civilian honour to Savarkar by virtue of majority at the Centre, if it is willing to ignore Savarkar’s statements like calling BR Ambedkar a ‘mathefiru’ (fanatic) and Buddhists as “rashtradrohi” (pro-sedition)”.
Meanwhile, Sena scion and state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray sought to distance his party from the statement. “It is his (Raut’s) personal opinion,” Thackeray said.
Insisting that divergent views did not mean a rift within the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, Thackeray said, “The Shiv SenaCongress alliance is strong and we came together for the development of the state. We may have different views on certain issues but this is what democracy is. Instead of history, we need to talk of current issues.”
Meanwhile, former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Savarkar was “not just a person but a thought” which will never lose its relevance.
Savarkar’s family has welcomed Raut’s statement. “...In the past also Shiv Sena aggressively opposed the defamation of Savarkar. I expect that Shiv Sena will now convince Congress leaders not to oppose him,” said Ranjit Savarkar, grandson of Savarkar.