BJP supporters at the closing ceremony of Savarkar Gaurav Yatra in Nagpur. , Photo Credit: PTI
The ongoing controversy over the legacy of Hindutva leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of the most divisive figures in Indian politics, has sparked a heated debate in Maharashtra. The latest round of controversy was rekindled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on March 25, a day after he was disqualified as a Lok Sabha member, when he said: “My name is not Savarkar. My name is Gandhi. And the Gandhi family apologized.” Does not ask.
The remark sparked a political firestorm with the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in the state trying to exploit the issue to deflect criticisms over the former’s disqualification. The alliance launched a five-day ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ to corner the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The MVA is an alliance of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also questioned Uddhav Thackeray’s stand on the Savarkar issue and his party’s commitment to Hindutva and challenged him to walk out of the MVA.
While the ruling party quickly got hold of the issue, the Savarkar controversy has become a sore point in relations between the Shiv Sena and the Uddhav faction of the Congress.
Mr Gandhi has often accused Savarkar of “apologising”. To the British to break out of the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During his rally in Malegaon, Mr. Thackeray scathingly criticized Mr. Gandhi on his remarks on Savarkar, saying that his party regards Savarkar as “a deity”. “While we have come together in this fight [against the BJP] To save the Constitution and democracy, Savarkar is our god and we will not tolerate any disrespect to him,” Mr Thackeray said.
Maharashtra Congress unit chief Nana Patole’s absence from attending the opposition meeting organized by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during the MVA rally in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) on Sunday underscored the rift within the allies.
On the same day, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance launched the Savarkar Gaurav Yatra.
Pawar to the rescue
Criticizing Congress leaders, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Congress party, except Feroze Gandhi (Rahul Gandhi’s grandfather), had opposed a congratulatory motion moved by a West Bengal member in Parliament for Savarkar after independence.
trying to relieve stress, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar tried to broker peace between the Uddhav faction of the Congress and the Shiv Sena and advised him to focus on the main goal – fighting the BJP at both the state and national levels.
Mr. Pawar tried to find a middle ground while promoting his own pro-Savarkar stance. He advised the Congress leaders not to raise the issue of Savarkar unnecessarily as any adverse comment on the freedom fighter does not bode well for the alliance. “During the meeting, Mr Pawar reminded the Congress leaders how sensitive the Savarkar issue is, and strictly asked them to refrain from making comments that would anger each other and the people of Maharashtra at large,” a senior The leader who Mr. Kharge’s residence said.
Even the Maharashtra Congress is worried about the fallout of Mr Gandhi’s comments. “At the ground level, we are facing the consequences of his comments. People of Maharashtra worship Savarkar, we have already made it clear to Mr Gandhi,” said a senior Congress leader.
Opposition questioned BJP’s silence on former governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s controversial remarks on Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and BR Ambedkar. “Why were they silent? It is all to divert attention. Now BJP wants to divert attention of people from Adani issue, unemployment and price rise.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, taking a different stand from Congress, has demanded BJP to give Bharat Ratna to Savarkar. He asked why the BJP did not give Bharat Ratna to the controversial leader.
Ultimately, the Savarkar issue has pervaded all corners of political persuasions in the state, widening the chasm between political parties and leaders and stoking the cauldron of divisive politics, leaving nowhere.
(deshpande.abhinay@thehindu.co.in)