Savarkar An Inspiration, Rahul Gandhi’s Statement Unfortunate, Says Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against Savarkar unfortunate. The former Congress president, who is under attack from the BJP over his 'Rape In India' remark, had said he will die but never apologise for speaking truth as he is a Gandhi and not a Savarkar during his party's rally in New Delhi. 

Reacting to this, Sanjay Raut said, “Congress should also respect the contribution of Veer Savarkar. You cannot disrespect and no one can disrespect him. Veer Savarkar is still inspiration for us. This inspiration helps us to fight, helps us to struggle.”

Terming Rahul Gandhi’s statement unfortunate Raut said, “I will ask Congress leaders of Maharashtra that they should go to Delhi and gift books on Savarkar to their leader Rahul. They should explain him how Veer Savarkar struggled and fought against Britishers.”

Earlier, the BJP had hit back at Rahul Gandhi, saying a "more appropriate" name for the Congress leader is "Rahul Jinnah" as his "Muslim appeasement" politics makes him a worthy legatee of the Pakistan's founder.

Targeting Gandhi, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao had said, "The more appropriate name for you Rahul Gandhi is Rahul Jinnah. Your Muslim appeasement politics and mindset makes you a worthy legatee of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, not Savarkar."

The BJP had demanded that Rahul Gandhi apologise after the Congress leader, while attacking the Modi Government over the issue of crimes against women, had said at an election rally in Jharkhand that instead of 'Make in India', it was nowadays "rape in India" in the country.

Rahul's comment was a veiled attempt reference to the accusation levelled at Savarkar by his critics of tendering apology to the British government to secure release from jail when India was under the colonial rule.