Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today demanded Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar to “shut up the Congress permanently” in answer to the targets made by Congress over the revolutionary leader in recent times.
However, a Sena leader said that the issue would be raised by the party in the Maharashtra Assembly tomorrow.
Mr Thackeray, demanded in Mumbai, asked the BJP-led government at the Centre to present the top civilian honour to Veer Savarkar, a honoured figure in Maharashtra.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, further carry out the debate in the Lok Sabha earlier this month, had said while BJP follows the ideals of Veer Savarkar, his party follows the path of Mahatma Gandhi.
The opposition party once again targeted Veer Savarkar last week when it tweeted that “Bhagat Singh waged war for Freedom from British Raj, VD Savarkar begged for mercy, to be a slave in British Raj.”
In strong condemned reply, BJP had asked Congress to apologise or face protest.
Further carrying the debate, Mr Thackeray said there will be no need to organise protests if the NDA government awards Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar.
“The Modi Government should bestow the award on Savarkar. Shiv Sena has raised this issue several times in the past. We are still fighting for Savarkar, but BJP is keeping distance from Shiv Sena over the issue,” he said.
He further said that ‘the Congress has insulted not only Veer Savarkar, but all other revolutionaries. The Government must immediately announce Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar and shut up the Congress permanently’.
However, The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, a key ally of BJP, will raise its voice in Assembly and push for Bharat Ratna demand.
“We will ask the Government (in Maharashtra) to recommend to the Centre to bestow Bharat Ratna on Savarkar. BJP is in power both at the Centre and in the state and it can take a decision,” said Pratap Sarnaik, a Shiv Sena legislator.
He further said that they will not allow the house to function till they get a firm assurance from the chief minister.
