BJP leader Santhosh’s statement on Savarkar ‘factually incorrect and baseless’: TNCC president Selvaperunthagai

Tamil Nadu Congress president criticizes BJP leader for false claims about Veer Savarkar's role in freedom movement.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai on Sunday accused BJP national general secretary B.L. Santhosh of making claims about Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar’s role in freedom movement.

In a statement, Mr. Selvaperunthagai slammed Mr. Santhosh for saying “Savarkar’s sacrifices inspired lakhs of youth to join the freedom struggle” at the launch of a Tamil biographical book on Veer Savarkar in Chennai.

“This is a lie and false propaganda. While Savarkar initially participated in the freedom movement and was arrested on July 4, 1911, and sent to the Andaman jail, within six months of his imprisonment, he wrote 11 mercy petitions to the British rulers between 1911 and 1920, pleading for his release. In these petitions, Savarkar repeatedly stated, ‘I will no longer participate in the freedom movement. I will not engage in any activities against the British authorities. I will remain loyal and conduct myself faithfully. Please forgive my crimes and release me.’ These petitions are well-documented and publicly available, making it impossible for anyone to deny this,” he contended.

“Savarkar was listed as the seventh accused in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination trial. However, due to a lack of direct evidence, he was acquitted,” he said.

According to him, the BJP-led Union government (1998) committed a grave insult by unveiling Savarkar’s portrait in the central hall of Parliament, directly opposite Mahatma Gandhi’s.

“No patriotic individual will ever forgive or forget this act,” he said. He believed the BJP was trying to further the narrative that Savarkar, who acted as a puppet of the British, was a freedom fighter and said that this would never be accepted by people who know history.