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'Savarkarji helped British...', says Rahul Gandhi, shows letter as proof | VIDEO
Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was addressing a press conference in Maharashtra's Buldhana district.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Thursday defended his remarks about VD Savarkar - that 'he wrote mercy petitions to the British and accepted pension' and that he did so 'because of fear' - and said 'I am very clear he helped the British'.
"I have a document that comprises Savarkar's letter to (the) British in which he has stated 'I beg to remain, sir, your most obedient servant'. This is not written by me... but Savarkarji. Let everyone read this document," Gandhi said.
"I am very clear that he helped the British," he said, brandishing the letter he said Savarkar wrote to the British; sections of which were highlighted in blue.
"Savarkar signed this letter whereas Mahatma Gandhi, pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were in prison for years… did not write any letter. I believe Savarkarji signed this letter because of fear," the Congress leader said.
Gandhi - criticised by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis - also invited the BJP leader to 'see this letter' and offered to send him copies.
Fadnavis had accused Rahul Gandhi of 'shamelessly lying'. "... want to know how many Congress leaders went through suffering like Savarkar for 11 years. Despite such prolonged torture, he sang (the) song of freedom," he said.
READ | Fadnavis slams Rahul, says BJP will bury ideology that insults Savarkar
Chief minister Eknath Shinde - who led the Shiv Sena rebellion that broke the Maha Vikas Aghadi, of which the Congress was a part - also slammed Gandhi.
Shinde said the people of Maharashtra would not tolerate those who insulted Savarkar and also snuck in a swipe at rival and Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, declaring "… we are seeing a soft stand being taken against them…"
Uddhav Thackeray responds
The former Maharashtra chief minister has, meanwhile, distanced himself from Rahul Gandhi's remarks. "We do not approve… " he said earlier today.
"We have immense respect and faith for Swatyantra Veer Savarkar and it cannot be erased…" Uddhav Thackeray said before Rahul Gandhi's presser in Buldhana.
Thackeray - who led the Sena (before it split) into an alliance with the Congress and NCP, after squabbles with the BJP over power-sharing in 2019 - has been accused of ditching his father Bal Thackeray's Hindutva principles.
READ | Inside the Shiv Sena-BJP split: Cracks appeared before Lok Sabha poll
Row over VD Savarkar
The (latest) controversy over Savarkar's place in history broke Tuesday after Gandhi's comment at an event honouring tribal leader Birsa Munda.
Gandhi claimed Munda as a Congress 'idol' and said "... for the BJP and RSS, Savarkarji, who wrote mercy petitions… accepted pension, is an idol'.
The comment triggered furious responses from the ruling BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by chief minister Eknath Shinde and to calls that the Congress' yatra be stopped.
To that Gandhi today dared the state to halt his march. "People should be allowed to speak openly... if the government wants to stop 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' then let them try," he said.
With input from PTI
