Government Minister Anurag Thakur fired back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, saying that the former “cannot become like Savarkar even if he takes 10 births.”
On March 25, Rahul Gandhi, who was disqualified as an MP after being convicted in the criminal defamation case over the ‘Modi surname’ statement, said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi. Gandhis don’t apologise to anyone”.
According to reports, Anurag Thakur said that the country will never forgive Rahul Gandhi for insulting Savarkar during the JITO Ahimsa Run at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
“The country will never forgive Rahul Gandhi for his insult to Savarkar. Rahul Gandhi can’t be Savarkar even if he takes 10 births. Savarkar ji spent his whole life for freedom and Rahul Gandhi spent his whole time campaigning against Indian democracy with the help of Britishers,” he said.
Previously on March 28, after former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from criticising VD Savarkar, CM Eknath Shinde slammed Rahul Gandhi, stating that if he can, he should go and remain in the Andamans jail like Savarkar.
“The citizens of Maharashtra are upset with what Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi should go and stay at the Andamans jail for one day if he can,” Shinde had said while talking to reporters.
He further stated that the Savarkar Gaurav yatra would be held throughout the state.
“We will organise Savarkar Gaurav yatra throughout the state to inform about the sacrifice of Savarkar,” Shinde had said. The Maharashtra Chief Minister also stated that criticising Savarkar is an insult to the people of the country.
“Veer Savarkar’s insult by Rahul Gandhi is condemnable. He (VD Savarkar) dedicated his life to the country and Rahul Gandhi is insulting him along with criticising our country’s democracy abroad. Insulting Savarkar means insulting people of the country,” he added.
Shinde lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray for weakening the Sena’s core values by allying with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), saying, “Those who used to say earlier they won’t tolerate the insult of Savarkar were wearing black bands in support of Rahul Gandhi. It’s unfortunate. They (Uddhav Thackeray) said they won’t tolerate Rahul Gandhi’s remarks. Will they beat them with shoes the way Balasaheb Thackeray did?”
Thackeray also urged Rahul Gandhi not to criticise Savarkar, saying that doing so would cause “cracks” in the opposition coalition.
“Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read the sufferings. It is a form of sacrifice. We will not tolerate the insult of Savarkar,” Uddhav said.
“Veer Savarkar is our God, and any disrespect towards him will not be tolerated. We are prepared to fight, but insulting our Gods is not something we will tolerate,” he added.
