The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key ally of the Congress, has now demanded the controversial booklet containing ‘insulting’ remarks against Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Savarkar be withdrawn.
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A Seva Dal booklet has this week claimed Vinayak Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse were in a physical relationship. The NCP on Saturday said this was not a fair claim to make when the person in question was not alive. The Congress and the NCP are coalition partners in Maharashtra in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
“Since Savarkar is not alive, it is not correct to make this claim. This booklet should be immediately withdrawn, since ideological differences are one thing but making such personal remarks when the person is not even around is not right,” said State Cabinet Minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik.
The booklet in Hindi “Veer Savarkar, Kitne Veer” was recently distributed by a Congress-affiliated organisation in Madhya Pradesh. The book questions Savarkar’s credentials as a patriot and even claims he received money from the British after he was released from the Cellular Jail.
The State BJP has already demanded the Congress leaders behind the book be immediately jailed by the Sena-led MVA government. “If the Shiv Sena will not take action against them, we will show the Congress people behind this their place. The Sena in the greed for power is sharing government with the Congress which has not shied away from making such disparaging remarks against one of the country’s leading heroes,” said former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
