Veer Savarkar belongs to Belagavi, the center of border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra
Belagavi, Karnataka:
The Karnataka BJP government’s move to install Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar’s photograph in the state assembly has triggered angry protests by the opposition on the opening day of the assembly’s winter session in Belagavi.
Leader of the Opposition, Congress leader Siddaramaiah led the protest and questioned the need to introduce a controversial figure inside the Karnataka Assembly. Congress leaders put up photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru during a protest organized on the steps of the Assembly building.
Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar said, “They want us to disrupt the assembly and protest. They know we are going to raise corruption issues in the session, so they put up Savarkar’s portrait without consulting the opposition.” Trying to cause trouble.”
This is the latest in a series of controversies over Veer Savarkar in Karnataka months ahead of the 2023 state elections. BJP leaders said the ruling BJP has launched a state-wide campaign to “raise awareness” about Veer Savarkar and honoring his portrait in Belagavi was a part of it.
Veer Savarkar also has links to Belagavi, which is currently at the center of an escalating border dispute between Karnataka and neighboring Maharashtra.
Savarkar was kept in preventive detention at the Hindalga Central Prison in Belagavi for four months in 1950. The arrest order was issued in Mumbai and Savarkar was arrested on his arrival in Belagavi.
He was placed in preventive detention in an attempt to stop the Hindu ideologue protesting against the visit of former Pakistan Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan to Delhi. He was released after his family filed a petition. He also submitted a document before the Bombay High Court promising to abstain from political activities.
This is the last winter session of the Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka government ahead of elections in the state next year.
The Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute is likely to dominate the 10-day session.
A Shiv Sena MP who wanted to join the protest in Belagavi was stopped from entering the district.
Lok Sabha MP Dhairyasheel Mane from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction wanted to participate in a protest to be organized by the Maharashtra Integration Committee in Belagavi. With over 61 organizations requesting permission to protest during the assembly session, the state has opted for maximum deployment of police on the ground. Over 4,000 police personnel have been deployed in Belagavi to deal with the tension.