Criticising the Maharashtra BJP for mooting a Bharat Ratna for V.D. Savarkar in its election manifesto, Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja on Tuesday said the ruling party may even propose the honour for Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse.
“This is biggest irony of our times that while we are all celebrating the birth centenary of Gandhi ji , the BJP is seeking Bharat Ratna for Savarkar, who was an accused in his assassination case,” Mr. Raja said.
“The day may not be far off for the BJP to demand a Bharat Ratna for Gandhi ji ’s assassin, Nathuram Godse. This is a part of their agenda,” the CPI leader said.
The CPI is contesting 16 of the 288 seats in the October 21 elections, Mr. Raja said. “Our primary objective is to defeat the BJP and it allies … We will support CPI (M) and other opposition parties in other seats and ask people to vote against the BJP.”
Mr. Raja accused BJP president Amit Shah and other leaders of the ruling party of campaigning on the basis of the removal of Article 370, but keeping mum on core issues like farmers’ distress, the fraud at PMC Bank and job losses.
