Rahul’s remarks on Savarkar trigger row
AKOLA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday kept up his attack on V D Savarkar, saying the right-wing ideologue had helped British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear, remarks that drew criticism and triggered protests.
Gandhi’s fresh attack on Savarkar, made during a press conference here as part of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, comes just two days after he called Savarkar a symbol of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Savarkar’s grandson on Thursday lodged a police complaint against Gandhi for “insulting” his grandfather.
Addressing a press conference at Wadegaon in Akola district amid the party’s yatra, Gandhi showed documents dating back to 1920, claiming they contained a letter written by Savarkar to the British. “I will read the last line, which says ‘I beg to remain your most obedient servant’ and is signed V D Savarkar, which shows he helped the British,” Gandhi said. He said he was of the view that Savarkar signed the letter out of fear and in doing so, he betrayed Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders.
“A copy of this (Savarkar’s) letter should be sent to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. If (BJP leader) Devendra Fadnavis wants to see it, he can also see,” Gandhi added.
Lok Sabha member Rahul Shewale, who belongs to the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, had on Wednesday slammed Gandhi and demanded that the yatra be stopped in the state.
On Thursday, Gandhi said, “If it want to stop the yatra, try...”
His statement sparked protests in parts of the state on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Savarkar’s grandson lodged a complaint against Gandhi for allegedly insulting Savarkar, police said.
Ranjit Savarkar, in a complaint lodged at Shivaji Park police station also demanded that Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, too, should be booked for “making similar statements”.
No FIR has been registered yet, said a police official.