BJP Mumbai chief to protest against Rahul Gandhi’s Savarkar remarks

Ashish Shelar, the Mumbai unit chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced on Thursday that his party intends to stage a protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his comments regarding Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Gandhi has often claimed that Savarkar apologised to the British in exchange for his release from jail. “My name is not Savarkar, it is Gandhi and Gandhi never offers apology,” he said in March amid the ‘Modi’ surname controversy.

“Rahul Gandhi has consistently insulted VD Savarkar. Our party workers will stage a strong protest this evening near the venue where he will be speaking,” Shelar said while speaking to reporters.

This announcement comes as the third meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA started in Mumbai to discuss its strategic approach in countering the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the potential addition of new allies. Rahul Gandhi is among the many political leaders attending the meeting.

BJP Mumbai chief criticises Uddhav Thackeray for supporting anti-Savarkar Rahul Gandhi

BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of the Shiv Sena (UBT), alleging that while Thackeray proclaims himself a steadfast follower of Savarkar, he remains silent when Gandhi makes derogatory statements about him.

“Thackeray and his party workers have become hosts to people who used to hate Sena. These people [members of opposition bloc INDIA] hated [Shiv Sena founder] Balasaheb Thackeray for several years. They all have now come together and Uddhav Thackeray is serving them,” Shelar said.

The BJP MLA further said that both Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar should feel ‘ashamed’ for extending a warm welcome to leaders ‘who used to hate Maharashtra’.

“The members of the opposition bloc INDIA claim they have come together to save democracy, but in reality, they are trying to save their families,” Shelar added.

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) meeting, scheduled for August 31 and September 1 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai, will be attended by 63 representatives from 28 political parties.