Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray Thursday said he does not support the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Hindutva ideologue Savarkar as he respects him.
Uddhav Thackeray’s statement comes two days after Rahul Gandhi criticised the RSS ideologue during Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Thackeray, however, said his party supports Rahul Gandhi’s yatra for the sake of freedom in the country.
Thackeray also hit out at Hindu militant group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stating that the RSS was not part of India’s freedom movement.
“We do not agree with what Rahul Gandhi said about Veer Savarkar. We respect and love Savarkar. But before questioning us over freedom fighters and Savarkar, you (BJP) should tell us first what was the RSS’s role and contribution in the freedom fight. We were not there during the freedom fight, but the RSS was there. The organisation had no role in the freedom fight,” Thackeray said.
“The PM has all the rights to award Bharat Ratna, when you speak so much about Savarkar, why have you not given Bharat Ratna to Savarkar yet?” Thackeray asked.
Two days ago, Rahul Gandhi said that while the Savarkar, who is an idol of the BJP and the RSS, wrote mercy petitions to the British, Congress idolises tribal leader Birsa Munda, who faced death without losing his pride.
