Rahul Gandhi’s anti-Savarkar stand ruffles state Congress

A senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity, said, “Frankly, when we discuss reformers or revolutionaries, we must be sensitive to public sentiment. Savarkar’s contribution to the freedom movement cannot be questioned. It is a fact he served ten years ‘kala pani’ which is unimaginable.” Adding that it was likely he sought mercy through a petition to escape the mental and physical torture, he said, but that cannot undermine his role.

Not surprisingly then, Congress rallies across Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Akola and Buldhana saw Congress focusing its attack on PM Narendra Modi and BJP. The uniform script that state Congress adhered to was to expose how BJP plotted to divest Rahul of his Lok Sabha membership upon asking uncomfortable questions related to the alleged Modi- Adani nexus.

Officially, MPCC president Nana Patole said, “Savarkar’s two nation theory is a reality. The fact that his politics lead to Hindu-Muslim divide cannot be ignored.” Another senior Congress leader from Nagpur said that Congress often finds itself doing a balancing act between secular and soft Hindutva.

After Surat court pronounced Rahul Gandhi guilty, handing him a two-year jail term, he allegedly stated: “My name is not Savarkar. My name is Gandhi, and Gandhis never apologise.”

BJP exploited the remark to not only put Gandhi on back foot by disqualification from LS membership but also questioning its ally Sena (UBT) on Hindutva and Savarkar, said the Congress state leaders.

During Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul raked up Savarkar’s mercy petition, and this helped BJP to effectively counter Congress, they added.