ROW OVER RAHUL’S COMMENTS ON VEER SAVARKAR, COMPLAINT FILED
AKOLA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday continued to target late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, saying that he helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear.
His comments came even as Savarkar’s grandson on Thursday registered a complaint against the Congress leader.
Gandhi also dared the Maharashtra government to stop the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is currently passing through the state.
AKOLA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday continued to target late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, saying that he helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear.
His comments came even as Savarkar’s grandson on Thursday registered a complaint against the Congress leader.
Gandhi also dared the Maharashtra government to stop the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is currently passing through the state.
Addressing a press conference at Wadegaon in Akola district, Gandhi showed documents dating back to 1920 from the government records to media persons, claiming that 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 at the media interaction during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is in currently in Maharashtra.
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 of the freedom struggle. “If the government wants to stop the yatra, try and stop,” he dared.
Savarkar’s grandson Ranjit filed a complaint at the Shivaji Park police station on Thursday against Gandhi saying he had insulted his grandfather. According to a police officer no FIR has been registered so far.
Gandhi’s comments came after Shiv Sena leader and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said he does not agree with his views on Savarkar.
“We do not approve of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Savarkar. We have immense respect and faith for Swatyantra Veer Savarkar and it cannot be erased,” Thackeray told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday .
Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had said on Wednesday that Gandhi has been “shamelessly lying”.
Addressing a rally in Washim district on Tuesday organised as part of his yatra, Gandhi called Savarkar a symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “He was jailed in Andaman for two-three years. He started writing mercy petitions,” the Congress MP had said.
Lok Sabha member Rahul Shewale, who belongs to the Shiv Sena faction led by chief minister Eknath Shinde, had slammed Gandhi for his remarks and demanded that the Bharat Jodo Yatra be stopped in the state.
During the media interaction on Thursday, Gandhi also accused the BJP of spreading hatred, fear and violence.
“BJP doesn’t speak to farmers and youth...If people thought this yatra was not needed, lakhs of people would not have come out in support,” he said.
On the perception that the opposition has been unable to take on the BJP, Gandhi said it is superficial because the opposition does not control institutions, media and judiciary.
“This is not a battle between two political parties. Institutions in the country create fairness on the battleground. If you go on the ground, you will understand what people are saying,” he said.
’“Showing compassion and affection even to your opponents are Indian values. The yatra is doing the same,’’ he added.
To a question on the Congress and opposition leaders “betraying the ideology” to join the BJP before elections, Gandhi said this will cleanse the opposition.
Those who can sell themselves for money are joining BJP. There are clean people around who will come to Congress, he said.