New Delhi: The alliance between Congress and Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena appeared to be on shaky ground over Rahul Gandhi's controversial remarks on Hindutva idealogue Veer Savarkar. Sena MP Sanjay Raut said there was no reason for Rahul to comment on Savarkar and that it could lead to cracks in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
“There was no reason to raise the issue of Veer Savarkar. This could lead to cracks in the MVA because we idolise Veer Savarkar,” news agency PTI quoted Raut as saying.
Notably, Gandhi, during a press conference at Wadegaon in Akola district on Thursday, alleged that Veer Savarkar had helped the British and had written a mercy petition to them out of fear.
Reacting to Rahul’s comment, Raut said any defamatory remarks against Savarkar were unacceptable to the Shiv Sena.
“This (Gandhi's comments) has not only impacted the Shiv Sena, but also some of the Congress leaders in Maharashtra. People in Maharashtra, and a large section of people in the country have respect for Veer Savarkar,” Raut further said, adding, instead of raking up history, Rahul should create new history.
He added that Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra is getting good response all over the country, mostly in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday defended Rahul saying that he did not target Hindutva ideologue Savarkar and he only highlighted a ‘historical fact’.
He also said that this remark will not affect the MVA alliance.
Notably, Sanjay Raut also targeted the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), terming them as “fake Hindutvawadis” for not conferring Bharat Ratna on Savarkar.
“Savarkar was never an ideal for the RSS and the BJP,” Raut said.
The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.