On Maharashtra leaders demanding Bharat Ratna for Balasaheb Thackeray and VD Savarkar, Amravati MP Navneet Rana says, “…PN Narasimha has been named for Bharat Ratna. I thinks all the names that have been announced are welcome. The demands have been made now, so I think that in the time to come, this government will take note of it. They should be awarded…”
Tag: VD Savarkar
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Savarkar our idol, won’t tolerate his insult: Uddhav warns Rahul Gandhi
By PTI
MALEGAON: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he considers Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar as his “idol”, and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to refrain from “insulting” him.
He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of three parties – Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – was formed to protect democracy and it was necessary to work unitedly for it.
Addressing a rally in the Muslim-dominated textile town of Malegaon in the Nashik district of north Maharashtra, Thackeray also said that deliberate attempts were on to provoke Rahul Gandhi.
“Savarkar is our idol and his insult will not be tolerated if we have to fight together to protect our democracy. Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read the sufferings. It is a form of sacrifice,” he said.
”I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that we have come together to save our country’s democracy and its Constitution. But you are deliberately being provoked. If we allow this time to get wasted, then democracy will cease to exist. 2024 will be the last election,” he added.
Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi over his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone.”
Thackeray said he supported Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
“Rahul Gandhi spoke well at his press conference yesterday. He raised valid questions about to whom does Rs 20,000 crore belong. But the government doesn’t want to answer,” he said.
During his press conference on Saturday, Gandhi said the moot questions remain over who invested Rs 20,000 crore in Adani shell firms and what is the businessman’s relationship with the prime minister.
Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray alleged that those who have no connection with the country’s freedom movement were attempting to finish off democracy.
Thackeray, who was addressing his second rally here after Khed in Ratnagiri district since losing the party name and symbol to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said he was fighting to save democracy and freedom. “The fight is not about me becoming the chief minister again,” he said.
Thackeray also said NCP leader Anil Deshmukh’s six-year-old granddaughter was questioned by probe agencies and even Lalu Prasad Yadav’s pregnant daughter-in-law was quizzed till she fainted.
“If you criticise those in power, police will be after you,” he said.
“Modi is not India. Did our freedom fighters lay down their lives for this?” he asked.
The former CM wondered how good and honest people in the BJP were tolerating the corrupt people brought into their fold from other parties.
Hitting out at CM Shinde, Thackeray said he doesn’t regret losing the chief minister’s post, but a government doing good work was shamelessly toppled. “Farmers are facing a lot of hardships and the Shinde government is doing nothing to ease their problems,” he alleged.
Thackeray said he has been robbed of his party’s name and symbol, but traitors can never rob him of the love and affection of the people.
He said his government has taken several steps for the development of the textile sector in Malegaon and farmers and during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, I had spoken to the religious heads in Malegaon and everyone here cooperated with the government initiatives to control the spread of the virus,” he said.
MALEGAON: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he considers Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar as his “idol”, and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to refrain from “insulting” him.
He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of three parties – Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – was formed to protect democracy and it was necessary to work unitedly for it.
Addressing a rally in the Muslim-dominated textile town of Malegaon in the Nashik district of north Maharashtra, Thackeray also said that deliberate attempts were on to provoke Rahul Gandhi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
“Savarkar is our idol and his insult will not be tolerated if we have to fight together to protect our democracy. Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read the sufferings. It is a form of sacrifice,” he said.
”I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that we have come together to save our country’s democracy and its Constitution. But you are deliberately being provoked. If we allow this time to get wasted, then democracy will cease to exist. 2024 will be the last election,” he added.
Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi over his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone.”
Thackeray said he supported Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
“Rahul Gandhi spoke well at his press conference yesterday. He raised valid questions about to whom does Rs 20,000 crore belong. But the government doesn’t want to answer,” he said.
During his press conference on Saturday, Gandhi said the moot questions remain over who invested Rs 20,000 crore in Adani shell firms and what is the businessman’s relationship with the prime minister.
Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray alleged that those who have no connection with the country’s freedom movement were attempting to finish off democracy.
Thackeray, who was addressing his second rally here after Khed in Ratnagiri district since losing the party name and symbol to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said he was fighting to save democracy and freedom. “The fight is not about me becoming the chief minister again,” he said.
Thackeray also said NCP leader Anil Deshmukh’s six-year-old granddaughter was questioned by probe agencies and even Lalu Prasad Yadav’s pregnant daughter-in-law was quizzed till she fainted.
“If you criticise those in power, police will be after you,” he said.
“Modi is not India. Did our freedom fighters lay down their lives for this?” he asked.
The former CM wondered how good and honest people in the BJP were tolerating the corrupt people brought into their fold from other parties.
Hitting out at CM Shinde, Thackeray said he doesn’t regret losing the chief minister’s post, but a government doing good work was shamelessly toppled. “Farmers are facing a lot of hardships and the Shinde government is doing nothing to ease their problems,” he alleged.
Thackeray said he has been robbed of his party’s name and symbol, but traitors can never rob him of the love and affection of the people.
He said his government has taken several steps for the development of the textile sector in Malegaon and farmers and during the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic, I had spoken to the religious heads in Malegaon and everyone here cooperated with the government initiatives to control the spread of the virus,” he said.
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Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde held first meeting of Shiv Sena; to demand Bharat Ratna to Savarkar
Express News Service
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena party led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had called its first national office bearers meeting at a five-star luxury hotel in Mumbai where they decided to propose the name of VD Savarkar for Bharat Ratna.
After the election commission of India recognised Shinde factions as the real Shiv Sena and even allotted them the traditional Shiv Sena symbol – bow and arrow, it was the first meeting of Shiv Sena on Tuesday late evening. The meeting was chaired by the chief minister.
Maharashtra cabinet minister Uday Samant after the meeting said that they decided that the Maharashtra government will propose the name of freedom fighter VD Savarkar for Bharat Ratna. “We will request to the central government that VD Savarkar should be conferred with the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna. Besides, they will also demand giving classical language status to Marathi language and ensuring 80 per cent reservations for local people in jobs,” said Samant.
ALSO READ | Maharashtra CM Shinde to remain ‘chief leader’ of Shiv Sena
He said that Veermata Jijabai, Ahilya Bai Holkar, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj names should be included in the list of national icons. “We will work within the framework of the election commission of India. Besides, we will also expand the party network and will not make the mistake that was done by Uddhav Thackeray during his tenure. There will also be a disciplinary committee that will ensure discipline in the party. The disciplinary committee is headed by minister Dada Bhuse, while Sambhuraj Desai and Sanjay More will be members of this committee,” Samant added.
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena party led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had called its first national office bearers meeting at a five-star luxury hotel in Mumbai where they decided to propose the name of VD Savarkar for Bharat Ratna.
After the election commission of India recognised Shinde factions as the real Shiv Sena and even allotted them the traditional Shiv Sena symbol – bow and arrow, it was the first meeting of Shiv Sena on Tuesday late evening. The meeting was chaired by the chief minister.
Maharashtra cabinet minister Uday Samant after the meeting said that they decided that the Maharashtra government will propose the name of freedom fighter VD Savarkar for Bharat Ratna. “We will request to the central government that VD Savarkar should be conferred with the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna. Besides, they will also demand giving classical language status to Marathi language and ensuring 80 per cent reservations for local people in jobs,” said Samant.
ALSO READ | Maharashtra CM Shinde to remain ‘chief leader’ of Shiv Sena
He said that Veermata Jijabai, Ahilya Bai Holkar, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj names should be included in the list of national icons. “We will work within the framework of the election commission of India. Besides, we will also expand the party network and will not make the mistake that was done by Uddhav Thackeray during his tenure. There will also be a disciplinary committee that will ensure discipline in the party. The disciplinary committee is headed by minister Dada Bhuse, while Sambhuraj Desai and Sanjay More will be members of this committee,” Samant added.
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Savarkar row: Uddhav must dump Cong over Rahul’s remarks, says Union Minister Danve
By PTI
JALNA: Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Raosaheb Danve on Saturday said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray must break his party’s alliance with the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter VD Savarkar.
Rahul Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra is currently passing through Maharashtra, on Thursday held a press conference at Wadegaon in Akola district, where he claimed Savarkar helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear, thereby betraying Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders of the freedom struggle.
“Thackeray and his son Aaditya must announce if they intend to break the alliance with the Congress. Balasaheb Thackeray spread the message of Swatantryaveer Savarkar across Maharashtra, and now his son and grandson are sitting with a party that insults the freedom fighter,” Danve told reporters.
Slamming Rahul Gandhi, the Union minister said, “Such statements have come from a person who has no knowledge of history or its great personalities. The BJP accepts the ideology of Savarkar. He is in our thoughts, our minds, and our conduct. He is ours.”
The Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party constitute the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which ruled the state till June 29 this year.
JALNA: Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Raosaheb Danve on Saturday said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray must break his party’s alliance with the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter VD Savarkar.
Rahul Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Yatra is currently passing through Maharashtra, on Thursday held a press conference at Wadegaon in Akola district, where he claimed Savarkar helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear, thereby betraying Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders of the freedom struggle.
“Thackeray and his son Aaditya must announce if they intend to break the alliance with the Congress. Balasaheb Thackeray spread the message of Swatantryaveer Savarkar across Maharashtra, and now his son and grandson are sitting with a party that insults the freedom fighter,” Danve told reporters.
Slamming Rahul Gandhi, the Union minister said, “Such statements have come from a person who has no knowledge of history or its great personalities. The BJP accepts the ideology of Savarkar. He is in our thoughts, our minds, and our conduct. He is ours.”
The Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party constitute the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which ruled the state till June 29 this year.
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Those targeting Rahul should explain why Savarkar got pension from British, says Maha Cong chief
By PTI
BULDHANA: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday said those criticising party leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on VD Savarkar, should first explain why the Hindutva ideologue was getting Rs 60 pension from the British.
Gandhi has kicked up a row with his remarks on Savarkar made earlier this week during the Maharashtra leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
He has claimed that Savarkar had helped the British and wrote a mercy petition to him out of fear.
“Those who criticised Rahul Gandhi for his comments on Savarkar should first reply why the latter was getting a pension of Rs 60 from the British,” Patole said in response to a query about criticism of Gandhi for his remarks against Savarkar and Shiv Sena’s stand that such comments will hamper MVA alliance.
He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra received an overwhelming response in Maharashtra and the Congress was united and energised.
Patole said his party wants an ideological debate and it wants to unite people. The Congress believed in non-violence, he said.
Congress general secretary in-charge of the party’s communication and publicity wing, Jairam Ramesh, said the grand old party was celebrating November 19 as ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ as it was on this day last year that the three farm laws were withdrawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after protests.
”November 19 is a historic day and we are celebrating it as Kisan Vijay diwas.
The only long-term solution for the welfare of farmers is upgrading irrigation facilities in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where farmers are committing suicide,” he said.
Women elected representatives and members of self-help groups (SHGs) joined the yatra with Rahul Gandhi to mark the birth anniversary of late prime minister Indira Gandhi, he added.
BULDHANA: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday said those criticising party leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on VD Savarkar, should first explain why the Hindutva ideologue was getting Rs 60 pension from the British.
Gandhi has kicked up a row with his remarks on Savarkar made earlier this week during the Maharashtra leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
He has claimed that Savarkar had helped the British and wrote a mercy petition to him out of fear.
“Those who criticised Rahul Gandhi for his comments on Savarkar should first reply why the latter was getting a pension of Rs 60 from the British,” Patole said in response to a query about criticism of Gandhi for his remarks against Savarkar and Shiv Sena’s stand that such comments will hamper MVA alliance.
He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra received an overwhelming response in Maharashtra and the Congress was united and energised.
Patole said his party wants an ideological debate and it wants to unite people. The Congress believed in non-violence, he said.
Congress general secretary in-charge of the party’s communication and publicity wing, Jairam Ramesh, said the grand old party was celebrating November 19 as ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ as it was on this day last year that the three farm laws were withdrawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after protests.
”November 19 is a historic day and we are celebrating it as Kisan Vijay diwas.
The only long-term solution for the welfare of farmers is upgrading irrigation facilities in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where farmers are committing suicide,” he said.
Women elected representatives and members of self-help groups (SHGs) joined the yatra with Rahul Gandhi to mark the birth anniversary of late prime minister Indira Gandhi, he added.
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Hindutva in danger due to BJP’s British style divide and rule policy, says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
Express News Service
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in his Dusshera rally on Friday said that the BJP has neither understood Veer Savarkar nor Mahatma Gandhi but only dividing the Hindus on caste and community line to rule and remain in power.
Thackeray said that Hindutva is in danger today but those at the peak of the power are using Hindutva by dividing the people on the lines of caste and religion. “They adopted the Britisher’s divide and rule policy. They are dividing our people so that they can get power and remain in power. Power is like a drug for them,” he said.
He alleged that the Centre has been interfering in the governance of the state government.
“When the constitution was drafted, fear was raised that the Centre may encroach over the rights of the respective states. At that time, drafting committee chairman Dr BR Ambedkar clearly said that there was no big brother and small brother in centre and state relationship. Both are equally important and equal rights. Only the specific sectors like defence, foreign affairs etc will be dealt with by the centre while other rights of the states will remain intact,” Thackeray said asking constitutional experts to do the discussion and debate over this important issue.
Uddhav Thackeray also dared the BJP to topple his government. He said if the BJP has really guts then they should pull down his government.
“I was not interested in the chief ministerial post but I had given the word to Balasaheb Thackeray that one day, he will make Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra. Therefore, he took the responsibility to fulfil his father’s wish. But other Shiv Sainiks will also work hard to become the chief minister of Maharashtra,” Thackeray added.
He said the BJP is the world largest political party but they have to import the candidate for the state bypolls in Maharashtra.
“Why there is selective outrage in media. The 3000-tonne drugs were detected at Mudra port in Gujarat but no one is talking about it. Even the court has asked to probe this issue. But there is studied silence by the central government. When it comes to Maharashtra, then every small issue is blown out of proportion. Maharashtra and Mumbai police image has been tarnished by raising fake issues,” Thackeray retorted.
He said that the Mumbai police’s Narcotic department has seized more quantity of drugs than the central narcotic agency, but who hogs the limelight? “We should give credit to our police for working hard and keeping us safe.”
He slammed that most of the CSR and central government funds are diverted towards Gujarat. “Why they are not diverting this fund to Maharashtra or any other state. Why there is step-motherly treatment to Maharashtra,” he asked.
People should feel I am their brother: Thackeray’s response to Fadnavis’ comment
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray took the potshot at former CM Devendra Fadnavis’s earlier statement of, “I still feel chief minister of Maharashtra.”
Thackeray said that he should never feel like a chief minister of Maharashtra.
“People should feel I am their brother or relative or someone else from their family,” Thackeray said.
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BJP hasn’t understood either Savarkar or Gandhi: Uddhav Thackeray on Rajnath’s comment
By PTI
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday slammed his former ally, the BJP, over several issues including the controversy over Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s comment on freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The BJP has not understood either Savarkar or Mahatma Gandhi, Thackeray said, speaking at his party Shiv Sena’s annual Dussehra rally at Shanmukhanand Hall here.
Singh had recently triggered a row by claiming that Gandhi had advised Savarkar, who was incarcerated at Andaman’s Cellular Jail, to write mercy petitions to the British.
Thackeray, in his speech also mocked the BJP for fielding a former Sena MLA in coming Deglur assembly by-election in Maharashtra.
“World’s largest political party” has to import candidates even for assembly bypoll, he said.
He also slammed the BJP for calling the Sena corrupt after the two parties’ alliance ended in 2019, and dared it to topple his Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government which will complete two years next month.
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Jairam Ramesh, Owaisi attack Rajnath Singh for his ‘Gandhi-Savarkar comment’, say minister trying to rewrite history
By PTI
NEW DELHI: A day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s remark that it was on Mahatma Gandhi’s request that Savarkar wrote mercy petitions, some opposition leaders attacked the minister on Wednesday, alleging that he was “trying to rewrite history”.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi shared on Twitter a letter by Gandhi on Jan 25,1920 to Savarkar’s brother regarding a case, and accused the Union minister of giving a “twist” to what Gandhi wrote.
The AIMIM leader also said the first petition Savarkar wrote was in 1911, just six months after getting to prison and Gandhi was then in South Africa.
Savarkar wrote again in 1913/14 and Gandhi’s advice is from 1920, he added.
“Rajnath Singhji is amongst the few sober and dignified voices in Modi Sarkar. But he doesn’t seem to be free of the RSS habit of rewriting history. He has given a twist to what Gandhi actually wrote on Jan 25 1920. Here is that letter to Savarkar’s brother,” Ramesh said on Twitter while sharing the letter.
“Rajnath Singh has clearly blown Gandhi’s letter of Jan 25 1920 out of context. Not surprising. This is par for the course for the BJP/RSS,” he said in another tweet.
Defending Savarkar, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha tweeted “Congress opposes Savarkar ji who never integrated with British administration and exhibited the highest sacrifice for the Motherland. However, some people had regular dining at Mountbatten’s home.”
BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya in a tweet quoted Gandhi on Savarkar “he is clever. He is brave, he is a patriot. The evil, in its hidden form of the present system of Government, he saw much earlier than I did. He is in the Andamans for having loved India too well. Under a just government he would be occupying a high post’ – Gandhi on Savarkar.”
Jairam Ramesh’s comments were in response to a historian and Savarkar’s biographer Vikram Sampath, who tweeted, “Some needless brouhaha about the statement by Rajnath Singh.”
“In my Vol 1 and in countless interviews I had stated already that in 1920 Gandhiji advised Savarkar brothers to file a petition and even made a case for his release through an essay in Young India 26 May 1920.So what’s noise about,” Sampath said.
Tweeting on the issue, another historian S Irfan Habib said, “Yes, monochromatic history writing is really changing, led by the minister who claims Gandhi asked Savarkar to write mercy petitions.
At least it is accepted now that he did write. No documentary evidence needed when the minister makes a claim. New history for New India.”
Owaisi attacked Singh and said,”Sir @rajnathsingh you said thatSavarkar’s grovelling mercy petitions were on Gandhi’s advice. Here’s the letter to Savarkar from Gandhi. No mention of petition to the British begging for leniency, mercy and promising to be a faithful servant of the crown.”
BJP ally JD(U) too waded into the row over Rajnath Singh’s claim, with party spokesperson K C Tyagi demanding that letters exchanged between Gandhi and Savarkar should be made public to shed light on the matter.
“While it is true that Savarkar spent many years in jail, it is also true that he tendered an apology and was freed with the consent of the British administration after he reached a pact with them”, Tyagi said, adding that he also decided to withdraw from politics following his release.
The copy of Gandhi’s letter to S D Savarkar, shared by Ramesh and Owaisi, said, “I have your letter.
It is difficult to advise you.
I suggest, however, your framing a brief petition setting forth the facts of the case bringing out in clear relief the fact that the offence committed by your brother was purely political I suggest this in order that it would be possible to concentrate public attention on the case. Meanwhile, as I have said to you in an earlier letter I am moving in the matter in my own way.”
Rajnath Singh at an event to release a book on Veer Savarkar on Tuesday had alleged that there was a deliberate conspiracy to defame Savarkar and that it was on Gandhi’s advice that he wrote his mercy petitions.
“He was an icon of Indian history and will remain so.
There can be a difference of opinion about him, but to look down on him as inferior is not appropriate and justifiable.
He was a freedom fighter and a staunch nationalist, but people who follow the Marxist and Leninist ideology are the ones who accuse Savarkar of being a fascist…,” Singh said, adding that the hatred towards Savarkar is “illogical and unplaced”.
Talking about Savarkar as a freedom fighter, he said his commitment for freedom was so strong that the British sentenced him to life imprisonment twice.
“Lies are spread about Savarkar repeatedly. It was spread that he filed many mercy petitions seeking his release from jails….It was Mahatma Gandhi who asked him to file the mercy petitions…,” the defence minister said.
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Savarkar never apologised to British: Sanjay Raut
By PTI
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said Veer Savarkar had never apologised to the British, a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that the freedom fighter had written mercy petitions to the British on Mahatma Gandhi’s request.
Talking to reporters in Pune, Raut said freedom fighters who languish in jail for more than ten years can adopt a strategy thinking they can do something after coming out of jail instead of remaining inside.
In politics or while serving imprisonment, a different strategy is adopted, Raut said.
“If Savarkar had adopted any such strategy it cannot be called an apology. Savarkar might have done that (adopted a strategy). This cannot be called an apology. Savarkar never apologised to the British,” he said.
Raut, who had demanded Bharat Ratna for V D Savarkar on many occasions, said the freedom fighter, a Hindutva icon, has always been an ideal for his party.
When asked about Rajnath Singh’s statement on Savarkar, Raut said he was not aware of it.
Rajnath Singh on Tuesday hailed Veer Savarkar as a staunch nationalist and India’s first military strategist in the 20th century and said it was on Mahatma Gandhi’s request that he wrote mercy petitions to the British and people from the Marxist and Leninist ideology wrongly accuse him as a fascist.
Meanwhile, Raut said the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will ensure that votes are not divided in the local body elections, due early next year.
“In Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune district, Shiv Sena will install its mayor. In Pune city also we aim to have our mayor,” he said.
Pimpri Chinchwad is considered the stronghold of the Nationalist Congress Party headed by Sharad Pawar.