Ranjit Savarkar Hits Out at Political Misuse of Hindutva

Marking the 143rd anniversary of Veer Savarkar, his grandson Ranjit Savarkar has launched a sharp critique of parties that weaponise history for electoral mileage. In an interview with IANS, he alleged that Congress continues to distort Savarkar’s record of prolonged incarceration and resistance against colonial rule to score political points. Ranjit emphasised that Hindutva, as envisioned by his grandfather, transcends ritual and is instead a patriotic bond with the land called Bharat. He accused several political groups of deliberately injecting communal overtones into the concept solely to consolidate vote banks, a tactic he believes will backfire as voters grow increasingly informed. Highlighting contemporary challenges, the Savarkar scion pointed to large-scale illegal infiltration from Bangladesh that skews electoral margins in closely fought constituencies. He demanded stricter enforcement mechanisms, including a specialised force and a robust citizenship registry, to safeguard democratic processes. Ranjit concluded by urging the nation to move beyond ceremonial tributes and actively implement Savarkar’s strategic thinking on foreign policy, security, and economic self-reliance before the 150th anniversary celebrations.