Eknath Shinde-BJP condemn Uddhav Thackeray’s ‘double standards’ over Rahul Gandhi’s anti-Savarkar remark

Eknath Shinde said that the continual and “deliberate insults” of Veer Savarkar by Rahul Gandhi was “utterly condemnable”

After Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray criticised his ally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark against Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar, discordant notes were struck within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance (of the Thackeray Sena, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP) even as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday condemned Mr. Gandhi’s “repeated insults” against V.D. Savarkar.  

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Mr. Shinde said that the continual and “deliberate insults” of Veer Savarkar by Mr. Gandhi was “utterly condemnable” while informing that his Shiv Sena faction and the BJP planned to launch a State-wide ‘Savarkar Gaurav yatra’ to celebrate Savarkar’s contributions to the country and criticize Mr. Gandhi.

“Rahul Gandhi does not have the spirit of sacrifice in him to even talk of Veer Savarkar in this manner. It is unfortunate that he [Mr. Gandhi] goes abroad and speaks against India there. The 14 years of kaala paani and harsh incarceration that Savarkar endured in Andaman’s Cellular Jai is unthinkable for someone like Rahul Gandhi, who would not be able to spend even a single day in those conditions,” Mr. Shinde, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, said.

He further said that Savarkar did not just contribute towards the freedom struggle but had worked for social welfare as well, including the eradication of superstition.

“He is not just a deity for us in Maharashtra but is regarded as one across India as well. To protest against Rahul Gandhi’s statements and celebrate Savarkar, the Shiv Sena and BJP will launch a ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatra’ in every zilla, taluk and Assembly segment,” Mr. Shinde said.

Taking potshots at Mr. Thackeray and the rival Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray or UBT), the CM said that Mr. Thackeray’s criticism of Mr. Gandhi’s anti-Savarkar stance was just “a got-up game” between the MVA allies (Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT), which reeked of “double-standards and hypocrisy”.

“If Uddhav Thackeray is indeed upset with Rahul Gandhi’s insult to Veer Savarkar, then why cannot he break ties with the Congress and exit the MVA alliance? The reality is that his ‘anger’ against Rahul Gandhi is all false,” Mr. Shinde said.