Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been given a stern warning by its ally Shiv Sena after the former blabbered about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during the Congress rally in Delhi on Saturday.
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut tweeted that Savarkar is no less than “god” for the whole country and deserves reverence.
“Veer Savarkar is a god (“daivat”) of the whole country and not just Maharashtra. The name Savarkar denotes national pride and self-respect. Like Nehru and Gandhi, Savarkar too dedicated his life to the country. Every such god must be revered. There is no compromise on this,” Raut tweeted in Marathi.
विर सावरकर हे महाराष्ट्राचेच नव्हे तर देशाचे दैवत आहे.
सावरकर नावात राष्ट्राभिमान आणि स्वाभिमान आहे. नेहरू ,गांधी यांच्या प्रमाणेच सावरकर यांनी स्वातंत्र्यासाठी जीवनाचा होम केला. अशा प्रत्येक दैवताचा सन्मान करायला हवा.इथे तडजोड नाहीत.
जय हिंद— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) December 14, 2019
“We respect Gandhi and Nehru. You should not insult Savarkar. Enough said,” he tweeted further.
आम्ही पंडित नेहरू,महात्मा गांधी यांना मानतो तुम्ही वीर सावरकरांचा अपमान करू नका.सुज्ञांस अधिक सांगणे न लगे.
जय हिंद— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) December 14, 2019
We respect Pandit Nehru and Mahatma gandhi , you dont insult savarkar ,समझने वाले समझ गये है …
जय हिंद!!— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) December 14, 2019
Rahul Gandhi who was addressing the Congress’ mega “Bharat Bachao Rally”, he refused to apologise over his ‘rape in India’ remark.
“The BJP asked me to apologise. My name is not Rahul Savarkar, it is Rahul Gandhi, and I will never apologise for speaking the truth,” he said.
The Congress leader was apparently taking a parallel on the allegation against Savarkar, a pre-eminent Hindutva idealogue, who tendered apology to the British for securing early release from the Cellular Jail in Andaman.
Earlier in the day, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed Rahul’s comment as “condemnable” and said the Congress leader should not consider himself “a Gandhi”.
Veer Savarkar has sacrificed his entire life for our MatruBhumi. Using such language for him is an insult to all the great patriots and freedom fighters who have sacrificed their lives !
So, Rahul Gandhi must apologise our nation for yet another irresponsible statement !!!— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 14, 2019
BJP leader, Sambit Patra gave the Gandhi scion a befitting reply. He said, “Rahul Gandhi can never become Savarkar. Savarkar was veer (brave) and patriot. Rahul Gandhi speaks the language of Pakistan on Article 370, Balakot airstrike, surgical strikes and CAB. He can never emulate Veer Savarkar. If Rahul Gandhi wants new name then from today BJP will call him ‘Rahul thoda sharm kar (Rahul, have some shame). A man who compares Make in India with Rape in India has crossed all limits.”
Shiv Sena has formed government with Congress and the NCP as allies in Maharashtra.