City
Epaper

Savarkar row: Maha Oppn seeks Rahul's apology, targets CM

By IANS | Updated: December 16, 2019 19:00 IST

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party legislators on Monday continued to protest outside the Maharashtra legislature, demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on Vinayak Damodar alias 'Veer' Savarkar.

Open in App

Ensuring that the first day of the legislature's Winter Session began on a stormy note, the BJP also targeted Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for his stand on the issue, terming as his "helplessness" to save his government from collapsing.

When Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis raised the matter in the assembly, it was not taken on record by Speaker Nana Patole.

Opposing the move, Fadnavis asked: "Is this the British Raj assembly or Independent India's legislature? Why our sentiments on Veer Savarkar cannot go on record?"

He also questioned why the CM and Shiv Sena were silent on this and wondered how the Opposition in Maharashtra could be prevented from speaking on Savarkar like this.

Earlier, sporting saffron coloured Gandhi caps bearing the legend - 'Mee Pan Savarkar' (I am Savarkar) - the BJP members arrived in the legislature, raising slogans demanding that Gandhi should say "sorry" for his controversial remarks on Saturday which sparked off a major furore among the BJP circles.

Led by state party chief Chandrakant Patil, Fadnavis, ex-Speaker Haribhau Bagade, and former ministers, they chanted "Savarkarji ke samaan mein, BJP maidan mein" and carried black banners with pictures of Savarkar, and placards against Gandhi's utterances.

In a related development, BJP activists organised protests in Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashil and other places in the state to condemn Gandhi's statements and burnt his pictures and effigies.

Meanwhile, predicting a "major political earthquake" in Maharashtra, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale also slammed Gandhi and said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress will not survive for long in view of these ideological contradictions.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: bjpgandhiShiv SenaFadnavis
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiMumbai: Kishori Pednekar’s Manache Shlok Reciting in BMC Schools Proposal Faces Opposition from Vijay Ubale

NationalChandigarh BJP Office Blast: Two Suspects Arrested for Grenade Blast; Drone Used to Smuggle Chinese Hand Grenade From Pakistan

NationalChandigarh Blast: Police Detain Multiple Suspects After Explosion Near Bhartiya Janta Party Office

MumbaiKirit Somaiya Urges Mumbai Police to Stop Halting Hindu Festival Processions In Name of Namaz or Mosques

NationalTennis Legend Leander Paes Joins BJP Ahead of West Bengal Assembly Election 2026 (Watch Video)

National Realted Stories

NationalDelhi Police apprehend proclaimed offender wanted in multiple robbery, vehicle theft cases

NationalRahul Gandhi extends Easter greetings, wishes for "happiness, harmony and prosperity"

NationalCAIT urges govt to curb growing malpractices of e-commerce platforms, seeks retail reforms

NationalMay teachings of Jesus Christ inspire kindness, strengthen togetherness: PM Modi on Easter

NationalUP CM Yogi pays tribute to Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary