BJP Mahila Morcha supporters sporting masks of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar participate in a rally in Nagpur on April 4, 2023.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The controversy surrounding the legacy of Hindutva demagogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, probably the most divisive figures in Indian politics, has reignited a heated debate in Maharashtra. The newest spherical of controversy was but once more sparked by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on March 25, a day after his disqualification as a Lok Sabha member, when he stated: “My name is not Savarkar. My name is Gandhi. And Gandhis don’t apologise.”
The comment triggered a political firestorm within the State with the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party mix attempting to take advantage of the problem to offset criticisms over the previous’s disqualification. The alliance launched a five-day ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ to push the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to the sting. The MVA is a coalition of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde additionally questioned Uddhav Thackeray’s stance on the Savarkar challenge and his celebration’s dedication to the Hindutva, daring him to stroll out of the MVA.
While the ruling celebration was fast to latch on to the problem, the Savarkar controversy has turn into a sore spot within the relationship between the Uddhav faction of the Shiv Sena and the Congress.
Mr. Gandhi has usually accused Savarkar of “apologising” to the British to get out of the Cellular jail within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During his rally at Malegaon, Mr. Thackeray sharply upbraided Mr. Gandhi over his remarks on Savarkar, asserting that his celebration regarded Savarkar as “a deity”. “While we have come together in this fight [against the BJP] to save the Constitution and democracy, Savarkar is our deity and we will not tolerate any insult to him,” Mr. Thackeray stated.
His celebration’s determination to skip the Opposition assembly hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and the absence of Maharashtra Congress unit chief Nana Patole in the course of the MVA rally at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (previously Aurangabad) on Sunday, underscore the rift inside allies.
On the identical day, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance launched the Savarkar Gaurav Yatra.
Pawar to the rescue
Slamming Congress leaders, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the Congress celebration, aside from Feroze Gandhi (the grandfather of Rahul Gandhi), had opposed a congratulatory movement moved for Savarkar post-Independence in Parliament by a member from West Bengal.
In an try and defuse rigidity, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar tried to dealer peace between the Congress and the Uddhav faction of the Shiv Sena and suggested them to focus on the primary objective — combating the BJP at each State and nationwide ranges.
Mr. Pawar tried to discover a center floor whereas selling his personal pro-Savarkar stance. He suggested the Congress leaders that the Savarkar challenge shouldn’t be raked up unnecessarily as any opposed feedback on the liberty fighter don’t augur properly for the alliance. “During the meeting, Mr. Pawar reminded the Congress leaders how sensitive the Savakar issue is, and strictly asked them to refrain from remarks that would antagonise one another and people of Maharashtra at large,” a senior chief who attended the assembly at Mr. Kharge’s residence stated.
Even the Maharashtra Congress is nervous concerning the repercussions of Mr. Gandhi’s remarks. “At ground level, we are facing the consequences of his comments. People of Maharashtra worship Savarkar, we have already made it very clear to Mr. Gandhi,” a senior Congress chief stated.
The Opposition questioned the BJP for remaining silent when former Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari made controversial remarks on Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and B.R. Ambedkar. “Why were they silent? It is all about diverting attention. Now, the BJP wants to divert the attention of people from Adani issue, unemployment and inflation,” he stated.
Meanwhile, NCP chief Ajit Pawar has taken a unique stance from the Congress and requested the BJP to confer the Bharat Ratna to Savarkar. He requested why the BJP hasn’t conferred the Bharat Ratna to the controversial chief.
Ultimately, the Savarkar challenge has permeated into all corners of political opinions within the State, burning the cauldron of divisive politics by additional widening the chasm between political events and leaders, leaving a highway to nowhere.
(deshpande.abhinay@thehindu.co.in)
