After Rahul Gandhi’s ‘embarrassing’ comments against Savarkar, Sanjay Raut warns of cracks within MVA alliance

No question of MVA breaking up over Rahul’s ‘anti-Savarkar’ comments, say Maharashtra Congress leaders 

With Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments against Hindutva ideologue V. D. Savarkar putting his party’s regional ally, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction in a spot, Uddhav camp MP Sanjay Raut censured Mr. Gandhi’s remarks as ‘unwarranted’ and ‘embarrassing’ while stating that it could cause a schism within the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra.

Speaking in Mumbai on Friday, Mr. Raut categorically stated that the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray would not tolerate any defamatory remarks against V. D. Savarkar.

“At a time when Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has been getting enthusiastic response across the country, especially in Maharashtra, there was no reason for him to rake up the issue of Savarkar. It has come as a jolt not just to us but the Congress leaders in Maharashtra have received a setback. His [Rahul’s] remarks have proved embarrassing for them as well,” said the Rajya Sabha MP.

Maharashtra, along with a large section of the populace in India had great respect for Veer Savarkar, Mr. Raut asserted, while advising Mr. Gandhi to stop “chewing on the past” and focus on creating a new history for the future instead.

Despite his criticism of Mr. Gandhi’s remarks against Savarkar, Mr. Raut targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), remarking that Veer Savarkar could never be an ideal for “fake Hindutvawadis” like the BJP and its parent body – the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“Why hasn’t the BJP awarded the Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar despite being in power at the Centre for so long? Is their love for Savarkar a political stunt?” questioned Mr. Raut.

The MP’s comments followed the line taken by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who, on Thursday, disagreed with Mr. Gandhi’s remarks against Savarkar but questioned the BJP and the RSS’ claim of the Hindutva ideologue by remarking that the RSS had made “no contribution towards the Indian freedom struggle.”