Uddhav Thackeray warns Rahul Gandhi against insulting Veer Savarkar

 

Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, recently warned Rahul Gandhi against insulting Veer Savarkar, a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement. Thackeray's warning came after Gandhi, who is the leader of the Indian National Congress party, made remarks critical of Savarkar's legacy.

Savarkar, who lived from 1883 to 1966, was a proponent of Hindu nationalism and a leader of the Hindu Mahasabha party. He was also a vocal critic of the Indian independence movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress. Despite this, he is widely regarded as a hero by many in the Hindu nationalist movement, and his legacy is the subject of ongoing debate in India.

Gandhi's comments about Savarkar came during a rally in Delhi, where he criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he saw as their attempt to co-opt Savarkar's legacy for political gain. He called Savarkar a "traitor" who begged for mercy from the British when he was imprisoned during the independence struggle.

Thackeray, who leads the Shiv Sena party, responded to Gandhi's comments by warning him not to insult Savarkar. He said that Savarkar was a great patriot who sacrificed his life for the country and that his legacy should be respected.

The controversy surrounding Savarkar's legacy reflects the ongoing debate in India about the role of Hindu nationalism in the country's politics. Some see Savarkar as a hero who fought for India's independence and promoted Hindu unity, while others see him as a divisive figure who espoused a narrow and exclusionary vision of India.

Regardless of one's view of Savarkar, it is clear that his legacy continues to be a contentious issue in India's political discourse. Thackeray's warning to Gandhi is just the latest example of how this debate is playing out in the country's political arena.