Shinde targets Rahul, Uddhav, says insult of Savarkar won’t be tolerated in Maharashtra

Participants, wearing saffron caps with ‘Mi Savarkar’ (I am Savarkar) and other messages written on them, paid floral tributes to Savarkar at the Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium in Thane city from where the yatra commenced.

Addressing the gathering at the end of the rally, Shinde questioned Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray for sharing the dais with Rahul, who has repeatedly made “adverse comments on Savarkar”.

“Veer Savarkar’s role in India’s freedom movement was immense. Nobody has the right to undermine his contribution in India’s Independence movement,” Shinde said.

“Savarkar’s insult will not be tolerated in Maharashtra. Anybody attempting to distort facts will be dealt with firmly. The yatra in honour of Savarkar is just a glimpse,” he said.

“An insult of Savarkar is the insult of every Indian. I openly condemn people like Rahul for his tirade against Savarkar. I dare anyone to live a day in the Cellular Jail the way Savarkar was jailed,” Shinde said.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “Till 2014, people were reluctant to utter the word Hindutva. But Modi’s leadership brought about change and people are now openly endorsing Hindutva. Therefore, attempting to malign the image of Savarkar or any freedom fighter will not be allowed,” Shinde warned.

Taking a dig at Uddhav, he said, “Bal Thackeray led an agitation to beat Manishankar Iyer’s effigy with shoes for insulting Savarkar. Unfortunately, Uddhav is sitting next to Rahul, who insulted Savarkar,” he said.

A tableau displaying information related to Savarkar was also part of the yatra. Shinde and other leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP coalition participated in the yatra on a makeshift ‘chariot’ with a large photograph of Savarkar in the background. The vehicle was decorated with flowers and followed by supporters riding motorbikes with saffron flags on them.

The CM waved to people as the yatra moved to cover four Assembly segments in the city.

Flowers were showered on the participants as several of them moved around Thane city using more than 200 motorbikes and around 100 auto-rickshaws raising slogans in praise of Savarkar and the country.

At Dadar in Mumbai, city BJP president Ashish Shelar led the rally, which passed through the Shiv Sena Bhawan. Sporting saffron caps and flags, a large number of activists took to the streets raising slogans.

“Savarkar ka aapman, nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate Savarkar’s insult),” the activists said. BJP workers also shouted slogans against Uddhav for his alliance with the Congress.

“Uddhav has compromised Hindutva to shake hands with the Congress for power in 2019. Even now when Rahul is publicly maligning Savarkar, Uddhav is continuing his alliance with the Congress,” Shelar said.

Rallies were held in Mulund, Mankhurd, Anushakti Nagar, Bhayander, Mumbadevi, Mahim, Kalwa, Mumbra, Andheri, Vile Parle, Bandra and Chandivali in Mumbai.

Several rallies also took place across North Maharashtra and Marathwada.

The BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena had last month announced that ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatras’ would be taken out in all districts of Maharashtra to honour Savarkar’s contribution to the country and to counter Rahul’s criticism of him.

With PTI inputs