Opp walks out as Savarkar finds place in LS

The NDA allies present included members from Samata Party, Telugu Desam, DMK and Trinamool Congress. The Telugu Desam was represented by K. Yerran Naidu and M. Jeganathan and the DMK by Union Minister T.R. Baalu, D. Venugopal, Viduthalai Virumbi and Shanmugasundaram. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah, who belongs to the Congress, participated in the function, though her party colleague and Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed stayed away.

BJP-Shiv Sena combine MPs shouted in chorus Swatantryaveer Savarkar amar rahe (may you become immortal) and Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Savarkar tera naam rahega (till the sun and moon exist Savarkar you will be remembered) as the President unveiled the portrait.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other parties had earlier written to the President requesting him to reconsider his decision to unveil Veer Savarkar’s portrait since he was allegedly associated with the assassins of Mahatma Gandhi apart from being a supporter of the two-nation theory.

They flayed him for a mercy petition to the British authorities during the freedom movement.

Ironically, several leading lights of the Opposition, including CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee and senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Shivaraj Patil were present when a Parliamentary committee cleared a proposal to put up Savarkar’s portrait two months ago. President Kalam also inaugurated an exhibition featuring rare photographs and writings of Veer Savarkar.

After he unveiled the portrait, Shekhawat, Vajpayee, Advani and Sushma Swaraj offered floral tributes to it.