Union Home Minister Amit Shah Dares Rahul Gandhi To laud Savarkar, Bal Thackeray

In a fiery rally ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra state elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress’s stand on Article 370, and the Maharashtra opposition alliance — Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Shah, speaking at Hingoli on Friday, presented a direct challenge to the opposition, questioning their stance on Hindutva icons and national security issues. His comments ranged from veiled attacks on the Congress party’s leadership to sharp criticism of its handling of national security and religious issues.

At the rally, Amit Shah made headlines with a bold challenge to Rahul Gandhi, urging him to praise two of Maharashtra’s most revered political figures — Veer Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Shah, speaking to the gathering, said, “Uddhav ji, if you have the courage, get Rahul Baba to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb.” This remark references the ongoing ideological divide within Maharashtra’s political landscape, with BJP strongly aligning with Hindutva leaders like Savarkar and Thackeray, while the opposition remains more secular in its stance.

The challenge highlights the BJP’s strategy of reinforcing its nationalist and Hindutva credentials, positioning itself as the protector of the legacy of these leaders, while accusing the opposition, particularly the Congress, of downplaying their contributions to India’s freedom struggle and cultural identity.

Amit Shah’s comments also targeted Rahul Gandhi’s stance on Kashmir and Article 370. Referring to a Congress resolution in Kashmir advocating for the restoration of Article 370 — which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir — Shah emphatically dismissed the possibility of its revival. “Rahul Baba, listen carefully, not only you but even your fourth generation cannot bring back Article 370,” Shah declared, reminding the crowd of the BJP’s historic move to revoke Article 370 in 2019, a move that has remained central to the party’s political identity.

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Shah’s words came as a sharp rebuke to Congress’s Kashmir policies, accusing the party of being out of touch with national sentiment while lauding the Modi government for its decisive actions on national security and territorial integrity.

Continuing his tirade, Shah mocked Sonia Gandhi’s persistent efforts to establish her son Rahul Gandhi as the face of Indian politics. He remarked, “Sonia Gandhi tried to launch her son 20 times. Her ‘Rahul plane’ is going to crash for the 21st time in Maharashtra elections.” This statement is a reflection of Shah’s broader criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s leadership capabilities, a sentiment that is widely shared by the BJP and other right-wing factions.

Shah’s remarks about the “Rahul plane” were particularly aimed at undermining the credibility of Congress in Maharashtra, where the party is part of the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), alongside Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

In a highly charged political statement, Amit Shah compared the future of Maharashtra to a historical battle between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Shah asserted that the upcoming elections would decide whether Maharashtra continues on the path laid by the great Maratha warrior Shivaji or veers toward the legacy of Aurangzeb.

“The BJP-led Mahayuti has chosen the path of Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi people are the Aurangzeb fan club,” Shah remarked. This statement aimed at painting the opposition as unpatriotic and ideologically aligned with figures from India’s medieval history who were opposed to Hindu nationalism. Shah’s use of this historical analogy underscored the BJP’s political narrative of promoting Hindu pride and nationalism, which it believes resonates deeply with Maharashtra’s voters.

Shah also highlighted the BJP government’s success in facilitating the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after years of legal and political battles. He reminded the audience, “For 70 years, Congress obstructed the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, but Modi ji built it.” This reference is designed to contrast the BJP’s commitment to fulfilling religious promises with the opposition’s alleged apathy toward Hindu concerns.

Further attacking the Congress and its allies, Shah addressed the controversial Waqf Board issue in Karnataka, where land and properties have allegedly been marked as Waqf (endowment) properties, including temples and farmers’ lands. “We have brought a bill to amend the Waqf Act, but Sharad Pawar and Company are opposing this bill,” Shah declared. His comments were aimed at painting the opposition alliance as out of touch with the needs of ordinary Hindus while reaffirming the BJP’s commitment to addressing grievances related to religious and cultural issues.

Amit Shah’s remarks underscore the high stakes for the BJP in Maharashtra’s upcoming elections. With the state being a crucial battleground, the BJP is pulling out all stops to consolidate its base among Hindu voters by championing Hindutva, promoting the legacy of figures like Savarkar and Shivaji, and accusing the Congress and MVA of being weak on national security issues.

Shah’s comments about the future of Maharashtra likening it to a historical confrontation — aim to position the BJP as the true guardian of the state’s cultural and political legacy. Whether this strategy will resonate with voters in Maharashtra remains to be seen, but it is clear that the battle for Maharashtra will be as much about ideology as it will be about electoral arithmetic.

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