Dropping Chapters On Savarkar, RSS Founder 'Unfortunate', Says Gadkari On K'taka Govt's Decision

Nitin Gadkari’s statement came after the Congress-led Karnataka government recently kicked up a row by removing chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar from school textbooks.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that it was unfortunate that chapters on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh founder K B Hedgewar were being removed from school syllabus. Gadkari’s statement came after the Congress-led Karnataka government recently kicked up a row by removing chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar from school textbooks. Calling Savarkar a social reformer and a patriot, Gadkari said it was unfortunate that a person (Savarkar) and his family who gave everything for the country had to face insults. 

"Savarkar was a social reformer, and he is a role model for us," the Union minister said while speaking at the launch of the book "Veer Savarkar" in Maharashtra’s Nagpur. 

Savarkar had said that Hindutva is all inclusive and free from casteism and communalism, the minister said, stated a PTI report. 

Without naming anyone, he added that it was very unfortunate that Dr Hedgewar and Savarkar were being removed from school syllabus, and "there is nothing as painful as this." 

Gadkari recalled that when a national leader with whom he enjoyed good relations criticised Savarkar, he told that leader that one should not criticise Savarkar without knowing about him.

The leader was convinced and said he would not comment on Savarkar henceforth, Gadkari said.

The Indian and Hindu culture propagated by Savarkar and Vivekananda was the same, the BJP leader said, adding that the young generation should be made aware of their ideology and also the sacrifices committed by Savarkar for the country. 

Meanwhile Congress hit back at BJP saying Gadkari made the statements to please RSS claiming PM Modi and Amit Shah did not like him. 

"We believe students of India and Karnataka should study about (BR) Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi's ideology rather than studying about KB Hedgewar and Veer Savarkar's ideology...Nitin Gadkari is saying so because he is trying to please RSS as PM Modi and Amit Shah don't like him," said Congress leader Gourav Vallabh.