'He Is Anti-Hindu, Has No Knowledge Of India's History': Assam CM On Rahul Gandhi's Savarkar Remark

Assam CM said that Rahul Gandhi's ideology has been revealed by his choice of words for VD Savarkar.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday termed Rahul Gandhi as anti-national and anti-Hindu for his comments on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. 

According to ANI, Sarma said, “Rahul Gandhi has no knowledge of India's history. The kind of words he has used for Veer Savarkar reveals his ideology. He is anti-national, anti-Hindu. People will take revenge about it.” 

Assam CM’s comment comes a day after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar betrayed leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. “Savarkar, in a letter written to the British, said, 'Sir, I beg to remain your most obedient servant' and signed on it. Savarkar helped the British. He betrayed leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel by signing the letter out of fear,” ANI quoted him, as saying. 

Talking about tribal leader Birsa Munda, Gandhi said that Congress considers Birsa Munda as an idol while the BJP idolizes Savarkar who wrote mercy petitions to British government. 

Rahul said, “Despite the British offering him land, (Birsa Munda) refused to bow down; he chose death. We, the Congress party, consider him our idol. For the BJP and RSS, Savarkarji, who wrote mercy petitions to the British and accepted pension, is an idol.” 

Rahul Gandhi’s remark has irked the BJP and Shiv Sena, hinting towards possible crack in the MVA alliance in Maharashtra. 

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s statement, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said that Congress leader’s comment will cause crack in the MVA alliance. He said, “The MVA would not collapse. It would certainly cause bitterness… there will be cracks in our alliance which is not a good sign.” 

“Coming to Maharashtra and saying things about Veer Savarkar won't be accepted. Congress leaders in Maharashtra won’t support him (Rahul Gandhi). Bharat Jodo Yatra is against dictatorship and issues like unemployment, inflation & Congress is getting support,” Raut said, as quoted by ANI. 

According to PTI, VD Savarkar’s grandson Ranjit Savarkar on Thursday lodged a complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly "insulting" the Hindutva ideologue. In the complaint, he also demanded action against Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole for “making similar statements”. 

Reacting to this, a police officer informed PTI that no FIR has been registered so far and that a probe in underway.