Maharashtra, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi often insulted Savarkar because he had the support of a large number of people. (File photo: PTI)
By India Today Web Desk: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke out against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday for his remarks against the Bharatiya Janata Party in general and freedom fighter VD Savarkar in particular.
Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference in Karnataka on Saturday where he made some serious allegations against Savarkar.
In response to a question from journalists about why he was doing the Bharat Jodo Yatra while his party was responsible for the division of the country, Gandhi said: Lastly, I remember that it was leaders of the Congress party who fought against the British, those years have spent in prison. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, all these people gave their lives fighting the British.
…In my history study, the RSS helped the British… Savarkar used to get a grant from the British and these are historical facts that even the BJP can’t hide, the congress leader said.
LIVE: Press briefing | Bharat Jodo Yatra | Turuvere | karnataka https://t.co/R90Y2XMAiF
Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 8, 2022
Gandhi explained that it was Congress that created a mass movement for independence and helped make the constitution.
Spreading hatred, dividing the nation are not things that have helped the nation, that’s why we do the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said.
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said Rahul Gandhi did not know the history of India and the Congress.
Rahul Gandhi has insulted Swatyantraveer again. Savarkarhe has constantly said he was a cop and took the money. I strongly condemn his statement,” Fadnavis said.
The BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi often insulted Savarkar because he had the support of a large number of people. “After independence, Congress deliberately insulted Savarkar several times, Fadnavis claimed.
Responding to Rahul’s comments, Fadnavis asked if Shiv Sena supremo and former chief minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray would take a stand and condemn Gandhi for his statement. The Congress and the Shiv Sena formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance along with the Nationalist Congress Party.
READ | Power has gone to their heads: Devendra Fadnavis to Maha Vikas Aghadi
Is he (Thackeray) going to send his leaders to welcome him (Rahul Gandhi) during ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and is he going to support his statement? Uddhav ji must answer this, Fadnavis said.
Savarkar, a Hindutva ideologue, is a respected figure for many right-wing organizations. He is also an important political icon for the BJP.
The Shiv Sena, which is emerging as a Hindutva party, had demanded Bharat Ratna for Savarkar.
“Savarkar served 11 years of the kala pani sentence in Cellular prison in Andaman. Very few freedom fighters have spent these many years in prison. Savarkar inspired many freedom fighters, built the revolutionary movement and suffered atrocities through at the hands of the British. He thought about the Indian freedom struggle even while he was serving his sentence,” Fadnavis said.