Ahmedabad: After Rahul Gandhi's remark against Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a proponent of Hindu nationalism, that caused controversy in Maharashtra, Gujarat's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Friday told ABP News that "Savarkar was a freedom fighter, he had contributed to make this country strong while Rahul Gandhi is sitting on a prepared throne, he does not know anything about the country's history and culture."
Speaking about Savarkar's contribution, Sanghvi said: "Savarkar means renunciation, Savarkar means tenacity. Will Rahul Gandhi distribute certificates to Savarkar? A freedom fighter like Savarkar has been punished in Kalapani."
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"It does not suit Rahul Gandhi to insult great souls like Veer Savarkar ji, Veer Savarkar ji gave important days of his life to the country, he had suffered the toughest imprisonment, Veer Savarkar has contributed to strengthen the freedom of the country, this is not an ordinary contribution," he added.
Rahul Gandhi linked the sacrifice of tribal revolutionary Birsa Munda to Hindutva philosopher Veer Savarkar on Tuesday during the Congress's 'Bharat Jodo' Yatra in Washim, Maharashtra.
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Rahul said that Savarkar submitted letters and compassion appeals to British authorities, pledging to be a "most obedient servant." Rahul Gandhi accused Savarkar of assisting the British and receiving monthly pensions from the British government.
“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 had said.
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Earlier on Thursday, a complaint was registered against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making "derogatory remarks" against freedom fighter VD Savarkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra by Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena leader Vandana Dongre.