Fadnavis slams Rahul Gandhi, Congress over remarks on Savarkar
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday mounted an uncharacteristically harsh attack on the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for statements on late Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar.
Addressing a 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' event in the metropolis, Fadnavis used an expletive while referring to Congress leaders' remarks on Savarkar.
These leaders were not telling the public that Savarkar wrote to British authorities from jail not for himself but for fellow inmates.
Rahul Gandhi has often accused Savarkar of "apologising" to the British to get out of jail, and has routinely shot back at Bharatiya Janata Party demands for an apology by claiming he was a Gandhi and not Savarkar to seek mercy.
"It was Savarkar who after returning to Ratnagiri from jail in the Andamans started several activities to bring about social reforms. Savarkar had said unless we abolish untouchability, we will never become a great nation.
"But those born with a golden spoon call him mafiveer (mercy seeker)," Fadnavis said slamming Congress leaders.
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader further claimed a congratulatory motion was moved for Savarkar post Independence in Parliament by a member from West Bengal, and the Congress opposed it except for one person from the party.
"His name was Feroze Gandhi, the grandfather of Rahul Gandhi," Fadnavis told the gathering.
Attacking Rahul Gandhi further, Fadnavis said the former has taken a "fake surname" and that "you are neither Savarkar nor Gandhi".
Does he (Rahul Gandhi) even know the history of the country, Fadnavis questioned.
"Some people's party is run on the money provided by the Chinese government. But they call Savarkar a mafiveer," he said in a swipe at the Congress.
"Savarkar endured harsh suffering, poor quality food and all kinds of harassment from the British at the jail in Andamans," the deputy CM said.
He also attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray for allying with the Congress, which routinely "insults" Savarkar.
"I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray whether Rahul Gandhi has deleted any of his tweets that insulted Savarkar. Thackeray even offered flowers to the photo of Rajiv Gandhi, former prime minister and father of Rahul Gandhi. But has there ever been a single such gesture by Sonia or Rahul Gandhi towards late Balasaheb Thackeray," he asked.
The BJP-Shiv Sena has latched on to the remarks against Savarkar to attack the Congress and also put Uddhav Thackeray on the backfoot since the undivided Sena under Balasaheb Thackeray regularly demanded the Bharat Ratna for the late Hindutva ideologue.
The ruling alliance plans to carry out such yatras in all 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra.
The Eknath Shinde government also plans to organise a 'Veerbhoomi Parikrama' at Nashik, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Pune and Mumbai to from May 21 to 28 to mark the birth anniversary of Savarkar.
The state government has said it will build a museum dedicated to Savarkar in Bhagur in Nashik.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
K'taka cops arrest X user ‘Bhiku Mhatre’ for controversial post on Siddaramaiah, Congress manifesto
Bengaluru: A social media user calling himself ‘Bhiku Mhatre’ and working on ‘X’ with the handle ‘@MumbaichaDon’ was arrested by the Karnataka Cyber Crime Police in Goa on Saturday for sharing an edited video clip of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and posting a message targeting Muslims on the social platform.
The police arrested Mhatre in Ponda, a city in South Goa, based on a complaint by J Saravanan, a Congress worker from Bengaluru on April 29, accusing Mhatre of posting an edited video clip of the CM speaking on reservation for minorities and making objectionable comments on the post with the clip. Saravanan has accused Mhatre of attempting to incite enmity and hatred among communities as well as tarnish the image of the Congress party. A case was registered against Mhatre under section 153(a) of the Indian Penal Code and section 66(c) of the Information Technology Act.
The social media user had posted on April 22, “Throw this in the face of Every Liberal & Every Piddi who was arguing that CONgress Manifesto doesn’t mention ‘Mu$£ims’ specifically & it includes SC/STs Also. CONgress WANTS TO TAKE AWAY WEALTH FROM HINDUS & DISTRIBUTE TO MU$£IMS ‘ONLY’ AS IT HATES HINDUS INCL. SC/STs.”
While the post on ‘X’ has been deleted, the user insisted that he had never posted anything that could be considered communal and alleged that the Congress was attempting to intimidate him for speaking the truth. Hours before his arrest in Ponda too, Mhatre shared a screenshot of an email from the legal team of ‘X’, indicating that the Magistrate of the Bengaluru Court had issued an order regarding his account.
The BJP, in support of the arrested, has slammed the Congress government in Karnataka, alleging that the arrest was an abuse of power. Leaders of the party assured that Mhatre would be provided legal support in the matter.
Amit Malviya, who is the head of the BJP IT Cell, posted on Saturday, “Karnataka Police has arrested @MumbaichaDon from Goa. We are in touch with his family and will ensure he gets all legal support. Congress has unleashed anarchy and is intolerant of dissent. But there won’t be another #Emergency in this country, ever.”
