No doubts can be raised on Savarkar’s contribution, says Pawar

“Swatantryaveer Savarkar’s contribution in the freedom struggle is above all discussion”

While the Congress leadership has time-and-again critiqued , its ally in and president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar on Sunday praised Savarkar saying no doubts can be raised over his contribution to India’s freedom struggle and the Marathi literary world.

“Swatantryaveer Savarkar’s contribution in the freedom struggle is above all discussion. His writing in Marathi is immortal which no one can afford to bypass. Swatantryaveer’s personality was versatile,” said Mr Pawar in his speech on Sunday at the All India Marathi Literary meet at Nasik in north Maharashtra. Bhagur in Nasik is the birthplace of Savarkar.

The NCP chief’s comments come on the background of objection raised by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which claimed that Savarkar’s name was omitted by the organisers of the literary meet. There were demands that the pandal where the meet was being held should be named after Savarkar, but instead the name of Dyanpeeth award winner Marathi poet V V Shirwadkar’s was given. Senior NCP leader and Minister Chhagan Bhujbal had come under attack for the same from former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.