'Savarkar Was A Brahmin Non-Veg Eater, Wasn't Against Cow Slaughter': Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao went on to emphasise that while Savarkar’s ideology leaned toward fundamentalism, Gandhi’s beliefs were deeply democratic.

On the book, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that it presents a well-documented account of the mindset of Nathuram Godse.

Source : PTI

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, while addressing a book launch in Bengaluru, took a critical stance on the ideology of Vinayak Savarkar, contrasting it with the values upheld by Mahatma Gandhi. Speaking at the release of the Kannada edition of "Gandhi's Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India" by journalist Dhirendra K. Jha, Rao highlighted the fundamental differences between Savarkar's views and Indian cultural principles.

Rao pointed out that Savarkar’s modernist tendencies, including his open support for meat consumption and his stance on cow slaughter, diverged from traditional Hindu beliefs. "Savarkar was a non-veg eater and not against cow slaughter. As a Brahmin, he openly propagated eating meat," Rao remarked. 

 

VIDEO | "Savarkar was a non-veg eater and he was not against cow slaughter. As a Brahmin he was eating meat, and he was openly propagating eating meat," said Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao (@dineshgrao) speaking during an event in #Bengaluru.

(Source: Third Party)… pic.twitter.com/q2uXdZn6hP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 3, 2024

 

He went on to emphasise that while Savarkar’s ideology leaned toward fundamentalism, Gandhi’s beliefs were deeply democratic. According to Rao, Gandhi’s actions embodied tolerance and inclusiveness, characteristics that set him apart from fundamentalist thinking.

In a broader discussion about the dangers of extremism, Rao reflected on the mindset of Nathuram Godse, Gandhi's assassin, and the influence of radical ideologies like Savarkar’s. "Even though you do all the most heinous crimes, you think that you are doing it for a greater cause. Suppose some 'gaurakshak' goes and kills or beats up somebody, he does not think that he is doing something wrong. He thinks he is doing it for a greater cause," Rao warned. 

Taking to X, Rao on the book said, "The book presents a well-documented account of the mindset of Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, and the events surrounding that tragic moment. It also explores how Savarkar influenced Godse's thinking. Gandhiji’s belief in democracy stands as a powerful counter to the rising influence of Savarkar's ideology and the growing wave of fundamentalism it represents today."