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Ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra, PM Narendra Modi accused the Congress of never acknowledging Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray
PM Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, in Nashik on November 8. (Image: PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday posed a “challenge” to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to publicly praise Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
Modi, who began his high-voltage campaign in the poll-bound Maharashtra, dared Rahul Gandhi’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies – one of which is Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena faction – to make him do so.
“Let the Congress or its yuvraj (referring to Rahul Gandhi) praise Veer Savarkar during their rallies… Rahul Gandhi will not be able to do it. Let the MVA allies try to make the Congress and Gandhi praise Veer Savarkar’s sacrifice and his days in the Kala Pani (Cellular Jail as it was known in British India),” he said.
देश और महाराष्ट्र की राजनीति में बाला साहब ठाकरे का योगदान अतुलनीय है। लेकिन कांग्रेस नेताओं के मुंह से बाला साहब ठाकरे की प्रशंसा में एक शब्द नहीं निकलता है।
मैं महाअघाड़ी में कांग्रेस के दोस्तों को ये चुनौती देता हूं… वो कांग्रेस के नेताओं से बाला साहब ठाकरे की, उनकी… pic.twitter.com/1IHW2cRSoR
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 8, 2024
During a public rally in Nashik, he further accused the Congress of repeatedly insulting Savarkar. He said some MVA leaders have asked Gandhi to stop abusing Savarkar till the elections are over.
The prime minister’s target was Uddhav Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena (UBT) is a Hindutva party based on its founder, Bal Thackeray’s philosophy, and considers Savarkar as a Maratha hero.
He questioned how Uddhav’s party could align with the Congress, which neither respects Savarkar nor Balasaheb. By saying this, his aim is to create cracks in the MVA over the issue as Gandhi has in the past made uncharitable remarks about Savarkar.
“Today is November 8. I have given the challenge. I will count the days now. Let the MVA allies make the Congress leaders or their yuvraj speak for 15 minutes in praise of Savarkar,” he said, adding that the freedom fighter was an inspiration for the BJP but the Congress in Maharashtra only abused him.