Book distributed at Congress Seva Dal camp in Bhopal targets Veer Savarkar, Shiv Sena fumes

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, January 3

The ideological contradictions between the Shiv Sena and the Congress party, part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, came to the fore yet again over the publication of a book on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar by the latter.

The booklet titled ‘Veer Savarkar Kitne Veer?’ published by Seva Dal, an arm of the Congress, at an event in Madhya Pradesh alleged that Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse were in a homosexual relationship.

The book alleged that Savarkar received money from the British after he was released from Andaman’s Cellular Jail.

It also made certain insinuations about Savarkar and Nathuram Godse.

Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Rakesh Singh hit out at the Congress over the book, alleging that the Congress was badmouthing patriots, especially those who were the well-wishers of “the majority community”.

Reports quoting from the booklet further alleged that the Hindutva ideologue was also on the payroll of the British government following his release from the Cellular Jail.

While the BJP predictably condemned the book, the Shiv Sena which idolises Savarkar also hit out at the Congress party.

“Veer Savarkar was a great man and will remain a great man. There are some who keep talking against him. This shows the dirt in their mind,” Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP and editor of party mouthpiece Saamna, said.

The BJP however refused to accept Raut’s statement as condemnation of the Congress and demanded that the Uddhav Thackeray government ban the book in Maharashtra.

“Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray would not have tolerated such dirty words against Savarkarji and would have reacted in his own style….. We cannot expect that today…. but the Maharashtra chief minister can at least ban the book immediately,” former chief minister

and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said at a rally in Nandurbar.

Accusing the Shiv Sena of diluting its Hindutva ideology, Fadnavis said the party has entered into an unnatural alliance with the Congress.

“Uddhav Thackeray will have to choose between power and respect for Veer Savarkar,” Fadnavis said.