Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Savarkar will cause cracks in MVA alliance: Sanjay Raut

The MNS, which will stage a protest during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra on Friday, reminded the Congress leader that his grandmother and former PM Indira Gandhi had once praised Savarkar

4 min readPuneUpdated: Nov 19, 2022 11:08 AM IST

Raut said Savarkar is a hero for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and they will continue to idolise him. "Our party chief Uddhav Thackeray made it clear yesterday that we love, admire and have immense faith in Savarkar. We, therefore, do not agree with Rahul Gandhi's views," he said. (File)

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, which triggered a controversy in Maharashtra, have raised questions on the fate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in the state, with the Shiv Sena reiterating its displeasure on his statement.

“What Rahul Gandhi said about Veer Savarkar will cause cracks in the MVA alliance,” Shiv Sena (Uddav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said at a press conference Friday. Asked whether this means that the MVA would collapse, Raut said, “The MVA would not collapse. It would certainly cause bitterness… there will be cracks in our alliance which is not a good sign.”

Also read | Rahul dares BJP-Shinde Sena to stop yatra over Savarkar row

At a function in memory of tribal leader Birsa Munda in Washim on Tuesday, Rahul had said, “Despite the British offering him land, (Birsa Munda) refused to bow down; he chose death. We, the Congress party, consider him our idol. For the BJP and RSS, Savarkarji, who wrote mercy petitions to the British and accepted pension, is an idol.”

Raut said Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has drawn a huge response in Maharashtra and therefore at this juncture, there was no need for him to raise the Savarkar issue and create a controversy. “Compared to other parts of the country, in Maharashtra Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has drawn an overwhelming response. His yatra is aimed at ending the hatemongering that is going on in the country and raising voice against rising inflation and unemployment. He has rightly raised these issues… When he is doing a good job and stirring the nation’s conscience, where was the need for him to raise Savarkar’s issue? He should have ignored it and stayed focused on the good job that he is doing,” he pointed out.

Reiterating that the Sena completely disagrees with Gandhi on the issue, Raut said, “Rahul Gandhi has made his point clear for the umpteenth time. He has in the past repeatedly said that Savarkar had sought mercy from the British… When he has already publicly made this point at his rallies and press conferences, where is the need for him to go on repeating the same? When he is talking of ending the hate mongering in the country, why is he targetting Savarkar again and again?”

Raut said Savarkar is a hero for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and they will continue to idolise him. “Our party chief Uddhav Thackeray made it clear yesterday that we love, admire and have immense faith in Savarkar. We, therefore, do not agree with Rahul Gandhi’s views,” he said.

In this context, Raut said Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also raised some relevant questions. “Those who did not participate in the freedom struggle are suddenly showing admiration for Savarkar. It is clear that the BJP is looking for political gains from Savakar’s name,” he said.

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Raut then once again raised the issue of awarding the Bharat Ratna to Savarkar. “Why is the BJP shying away from awarding the Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar? We have been for years demanding that Savarkar should be bestowed with the Bharat Ratna but the BJP government, despite being in power for eight years, refuses to take any decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which will stage a protest during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra on Friday, reminded him that his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had once praised Savarkar. “On Savarkar’s death, Indira Gandhi had herself said that it was a great loss to the nation… If his grandmother had praised Savarkar, then why is he insulting the revolutionary leader,” MNS leader Nitin Sardesai sought to know.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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