PM dares MVA alliance to get Congress to praise 'Maharashtra's pride' Savarkar

PM Modi challenged the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to make Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, to pubically praise VD Savarkar and Hindutva scion Bal Thackeray.

In Short

• PM Modi challenges MVA to make Congress praise Savarkar, Bal Thackeray
• Congress has often criticised Savarkar, accusing him of practising communal politics
• PM Modi was speaking in poll-bound Maharashtra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and challenged the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Maharashtra's Opposition, to get Congress leaders to praise the nationalist leader.

Alongwith Savarkar, PM Modi also heaped praise on Balasaheb Thackeray and alleged that Congress never praises the Shiv Sena founder.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi also alleged that the Maharashtra opposition alliance sat with the 'Yuvraj' of Congress and told him to stop abusing Veer Savarkar.

"Congress people abuse Veer Savarkar...I have heard that the people of MVA sat with the 'Yuvraj' of Congress and told him to stop abusing Veer Savarkar if you want to win elections in Maharashtra," PM Modi said during a rally Nashik, Maharashtra.

"I challenge the MVA parties to have Congress leaders and its Yuvraj (referring to Rahul Gandhi) appreciate the sacrifices and dedication of Veer Savarkar (VD Savarkar)... Not even one Yuvraj of Congress can dare to praise Savarkar," he said.

PM Modi also said that Veer Savarkar inspired revolutionaries and freedom fighters during the struggle for independence.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is an alliance of Opposition parties in Maharashtra comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Congress.

"Congress rejects everything about Veer Savarkar’s time in confinement and his life during the 'kala pani' (confinement in Cellular Jail). I challenge the MVA parties to get Congress to praise Veer Savarkar’s days in 'kala pani' (confinement in Cellular Jail), " PM Modi said.

Congress has often criticised Savarkar for his role in India's freedom struggle, accusing him of practising communal politics and weakening the collective struggle against the British.

In 2023, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also took a jibe at Savarkar after being disqualified from the Lok Sabha after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him in a defamation case.

Addressing the media, he said that his name is "Gandhi, not Savarkar", so he would not apologise to anyone.

"My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone," Rahul Gandhi had said after addressing the media after his disqualification.

After his comments, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray told Rahul Gandhi that he considered the Hindutva ideologue as his idol and asked the Congress leader to refrain from insulting him.

Maharashtra will go to polls for 288 Assembly seats on November 20, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.