No proposal to remove Savarkar portrait from Assembly: Karnataka Speaker

When asked about Kharge’s statement, Khader said, “There are 224 elected representatives in the House. Each person has a different thought process and opinion.” Quoting Dr BR Ambedkar, the speaker said, “One should pull the chariot forward and if they cannot, it is better to leave it there rather than taking it back. The others will take it forward. Hence, let us leave this aside and look at what needs to be done in the future.”

On Friday, BJP legislators in Maharashtra Assembly staged a protest outside the Vidhan Sabha condemning the remark of Priyank Kharge.

Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal warned of consequences if the Congress government removed the portrait from the Assembly. “Do you think we will sit quietly if Veer Savarkar’s portrait is removed. Let’s see,” he said.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Priyank Kharge, stating that it was his personal opinion, had said, “I don’t agree with the principles and ideologies that promote inequality and it was the same ideology that led to the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. If allowed, I will remove the portrait of Savarkar today itself, but it has to be done per the rules. I will wait for the Speaker’s decision and believe in the Constitution.”

The minister had also written a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding the removal of Savarkar’s portrait from the Assembly chamber. In his response, Siddaramaiah chose to distance himself from the issue saying the Speaker is the custodian of the House and that he does not have any say in the matter. Sources in the Congress said that the leaders have been advised against making controversial statements at a time when the party has lost assembly elections in four states.

The Veer Savarkar portrait was unveiled in the Assembly hall in Belagavi in December 2022. Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah and state congress unit chief DK Shivakumar, had staged a protest outside the Assembly against the then Basavaraj Bommai government’s decision.