Demeaning Savarkar Would Create ‘Cracks’ In Opposition: Uddhav Thackeray Warns Rahul Gandhi

Thackeray said that he considers Hindutva idealogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as his idol and asked Gandhi to refrain from insulting him. 

Uddhav Thackeray cautioned Rahul Gandhi against insulting Savarkar.

Source : PTI File Photo

New Delhi: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that demeaning Savarkar would create “cracks” in the opposition alliance, reported news agency ANI. Thackeray said that he considers Hindutva idealogue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as his idol and asked Gandhi to refrain from insulting him. 

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader made the remark after Rahul Gandhi denied apologising for his speech in London saying he was not Savarkar. 

"Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read the sufferings. It is a form of sacrifice. We will not tolerate the insult of Savarkar," Uddhav said.

He further said that there would be “cracks” in the opposition alliance if Gandhi continues to insult Savarkar. 

"Veer Savarkar is our God, and any disrespect towards him will not be tolerated. We are prepared to fight, but insulting our Gods is not something we will tolerate," the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said. 

"The alliance of the Uddhav faction, Congress and NCP was made to protect democracy and we need to work unitedly. Rahul Gandhi is being provoked deliberately but if we waste time in this, democracy will cease to exist," Uddhav said while addressing a rally in Malegaon.

During a press conference on Saturday following his disqualification as Lok Sabha MP, Rahul Gandhi had said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone."

The Congress leader was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP after he was convicted in a 2019 defamation case over his ‘Modi surname’ remark made during the 2019 poll campaign in Karnataka. 

Thackeray, however, praised Gandhi's questioning of the government on the Hindenburg report, saying the Prime Minister should have answered from where the '20,000 cr had come into the Adani firm.