BJP To Protest Against Rahul Gandhi Over Savarkar Remarks During His Mumbai Visit

The BJP's Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar said that the saffron party would protest against Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Hindutva ideologue late VD Savarkar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar on Thursday said that the saffron party would protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Hindutva ideologue late VD Savarkar. Gandhi has often said that Savarkar apologised to the British to get out of jail. "Rahul Gandhi has consistently insulted V D Savarkar. Our party workers will stage a strong protest this evening near the venue where he will be speaking," Shelar told reporters, as quoted by PTI.

The third meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA began in Mumbai on Thursday to discuss its strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha elections due next year and inclusion of new allies. Gandhi is among a large number of opposition leaders who will be in the city for the INDIA meet.

Shelar also took a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray saying the latter says he is a staunch follower of Savarkar but keeps quiet when Gandhi makes such objectionable statements.

"Thackeray and his party workers have become hosts to people who used to hate Sena. These people (members of opposition bloc INDIA) hated (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray several years. They all have now come together and Uddhav Thackeray is serving them," Shelar alleged, as quoted by PTI.

The BJP MLA said Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar must feel "ashamed" for laying down a red carpet for these leaders "who used to hate Maharashtra". "The members of the opposition bloc INDIA claim they have come together to save democracy but in reality they are trying to save their families," Shelar asserted.

As many as 63 representatives from 28 political parties will attend the meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on August 31 and September 1 at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.

The third meeting of the INDIA bloc is going to be crucial as it will decide the direction of the "united Opposition alliance". Ahead of Friday's meeting, the BJP jibed at the Opposition, saying that the INDIA bloc did not have a common ideology and leader and the constituent leaders were just "lost souls" looking for a way to escape corruption investigation. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the partners in INDIA should stop fighting among themselves before they challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The coordination committee will be elected at this meeting. This panel will streamline the working of the alliance across India. The committee will decide the national agenda, common campaign issues, and common programme outlines. A logo of the group will also be unveiled at the third meeting of the Opposition. According to sources, the Trinamool Congress had a significant role to play in the design of the logo. Sources said the logo will reflect the nation's identity and diversity.