Rahul Gandhi Doused Positive Energy From Bharat Jodo Yatra By Criticising Savarkar: Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut claimed that all positive energy created by the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra has come undone because Rahul Gandhi criticised V D Savarkar.

New Delhi: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut, said that all the positive energy that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was generating from the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra has been undone by his criticism of freedom fighter V D Savarkar

Raut in his weekly column in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamana, questioned why Rahul Gandhi was raking up issues that touch people's emotional chord and give the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a chance to divert attention, news agency PTI.

Gandhi in a recent press conference in Maharashtra during his Bharat Jodo Yatra called Savarkar a symbol of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He had also claimed that the late Hindutva ideologue helped the British rulers and wrote a mercy petition to them out of fear, the remarks that drew criticism and triggered protests.

Raut, who was recently granted bail in a money laundering case, said, "I spent three months in jail. Many freedom fighters were lodged in the Arthur Road Jail (in Mumbai). There is a memorial in the prison. As a common prisoner, it is difficult to spend even one day in jail."

"Savarkar spent more than 10 years in Andaman cellular jail and faced tremendous hardships. The British did not arrest him on false charges of money laundering. He lit the torch of an armed revolution against the British rule which is why he was sentenced to Andaman," said Raut, who is the executive editor of the Marathi daily Saamana, as quoted by PTI.

In his column, Raut said two sentences of life imprisonment meant 50 years in jail. Savarkar's brother Narayanrao was released unconditionally while Savarkar was released on conditions. This cannot be termed as mercy, he added.

He cited a book by author Y D Phadke which says a letter by Savarkar has been misconstrued as mercy, it was a strategic act to get released from jail. Even though he mentioned that he was ready to cooperate with the British government, it was a strategic move and should not be taken at face value, the Sena leader said further quoting the book.

According to PTI, in the column, Raut said that even Mahatma Gandhi in his article Young India on May 26, 1920, demanded that Savarkar and his brother be released. An annual convention of the Congress in 1923 also passed a resolution demanding the release of Savarkar, he stated.

The MP said that if Savakar regretted his earlier “violent method” against the British to seek release from jail, it should be seen as a strategy. 

"Today, many leaders surrender to the central government out of fear of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), change parties and give up loyalty. Savarkar suffered for more than 10 years in the Andaman jail for the country's freedom," he said.

The criticism of Savarkar was not the agenda of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Raut asserted.

"By speaking against Savarkar, Rahul Gandhi doused the positive energy and confidence generated by the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he further remarked.

He said the BJP has not given Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, to Savarkar despite being in power for eight years. The RSS has been a critic of Savarkar, he mentioned.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not stop maligning (India's first prime minister) Nehru, and Rahul Gandhi also does the same with Savarkar. This is not the agenda before the country. How can India be united in such circumstances," Raut remarked.

(With agency inputs)