‘Make Rahul Gandhi Praise Balasaheb, Savarkar’: Shah Dares Uddhav Thackeray – News18

Last Updated:November 10, 2024, 16:57 IST

Shah asked if any Congress leader can praise Veer Savarkar while daring Uddhav Thackeray in the same manner like PM Modi did earlier this week.

Union Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the release of BJP’s manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Mumbai. (IMAGE: PTI)

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday dared Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction to make Congress leader and leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi say ‘something good’ about Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (aka Veer Savarkar).

Addressing a rally in Jalgaon, Shah on Sunday that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was siding with Congress, whose leaders have insulted Balasaheb Thackeray and Veer Savarkar.

“I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray if he can request Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to say two good words for Veer Savarkar,” Shah said.

Can any Congress leader say a few words in honour of Balasaheb Thackeray, he further asked.

“It would be good if the people of Maharashtra get to know those who have come out with the dream of forming an alliance government amidst such contradictions,” he said.

Shah’s remarks came during a campaign rally in Mumbai.

His remarks mirrored that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who on Friday dared Congress allies in Maharashtra to get party MP Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes in praise of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray or any other MVA allies, Modi had said, “I want to dare Congress’ allies to make the Congress yuvraj (Rahul Gandhi) speak 15 minutes in praise of Savarkar and his sacrifices for the country. Similarly, the yuvraj should also be made to speak in praise of Balasaheb Thackeray.”

In 2023, Rahul Gandhi faced a defamation case filed by Savarkar’s kin after calling Savarkar a “coward”.

Reacting to Shah’s remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Shah has failed to understand Maharashtra.

Talking to reporters, he said, “Shah hasn’t understood Maharashtra. He should first speak about the insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a statue the government erected and Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled collapsed in eight months”. This isn’t the first time the BJP has taken a dig at the MVA over Congress’s stand on Savarkar.