Those opposing Bharat Ratna to Savarkar should spend time in Andaman jail: Raut

savarkar File image | Painting by Bineesh Sreedharan

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said those opposing Bharat Ratna award for Hindutva ideologue V.D. Savarkar should be made to spend two days in the Andaman Cellular Jail, the erstwhile colonial prison, where the freedom fighter had been lodged during his incarceration.

Raut's statement can potentially put his party, which shares power in Maharashtra with ideologically different Congress and NCP, in a spot.

The Congress is against offering the highest civilian honour to Savarkar, who is hailed in high esteem by the right wing parties.

"Savarkar's opponents should spend two days in the (erstwhile) Andaman Cellular Jail to understand the hardships he was put through by the British," Raut said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had kicked up a row in December, 2019, when he refused to apologise for his "rape in India" remark, saying "My name is Rahul Gandhi, not Rahul Savarkar".

Reacting to Raut's comments, Maharashtra minister and Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray said there was no need to dwell to dwell on the past.

Thackeray said he was not aware in which capacity Raut made the statement.

"The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) speaks of the aspirations of people. Many people are feeling bad that there is no conflict between Congress and Shiv Sena.

"Despite having different ideologies, the two parties have come together in the interest of the country and the state. Democracy means different ideologies can work together in the interest of the country," he told reporters.

The 29-year-old Yuva Sena chief further said he respects all stalwarts of the freedom movement.

"All are 'Ratnas' (jewels). It is in the BJP's hands to award Bharat Ratna since it is ruling at the Centre. We have to think whether these 'ratnas' would be sad or happy seeing the present state of GDP and economy," he said.

Congress reacts

Hitting out at Raut for his remarks on opponents of the Bharat Ratna honour for Savarkar, the Congress said supporters of the Hindutva ideologue should visit the erstwhile Andaman Jail to understand the sacrifice made by those freedom fighters who never apologised to the British.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the BJP can grant the highest civilian honour to Savarkar by virtue of majority at the Centre, if it is willing to ignore Savarkar's statements like calling B.R. Ambedkar a 'mathefiru' (fanatic) and Buddhists as "rashtradrohi" (pro-sedition)".

"Savarkar was different before 1911. The Congress is against his post-1923 ideology," Sawant said in a series of tweets.

"Savarkar had called Ambedkar a 'mathefiru', Buddhists as 'deshdrohi'. He had also criticised good deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji," Sawant tweeted.

"Savarkar had also supported the movement opposing merger of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore with India," he stated.

Sawant said 149 persons were sent for Kalapani (Andaman Cellular Jail) during 1909-21, while the number was 30 during 1922 to 1931 and 386 between 1932 and 1938.

"Many freedom fighters like Yogesh Shukla had served the jail sentence there (in Andaman) and later took part in the freedom movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi," he stated.

Taking aim at Savarkar, Sawant stated, "All those who served the sentence did so with pride and without seeking mercy. Such people should be given the Bharat Ratna".

After his conviction for the murder of A.T.M. Jackson, collector of Nashik district, Savarkar was brought to the Andaman in 1911.

A controversy rages on on whether Savarkar demanded clemency from the British for his early release from the cellular jail, notorious for its inhuman conditions.

"The freedom fighters who served their jail terms in the Andaman did not support the British. They did not take any honorarium from the British. If Savarkar supporters visit the cellular jail, they will realise the importance of sacrifice made by the great freedom fighters who laid down their lives without asking any pardon.

"Savarkar was different before 1911. The Congress opposes his ideology post 1923," the Congress spokesperson said.

Savarkar a thought which will never lose relevance: Fadnavis

Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis Savarkar was "not just a person but a thought" which will never lose its relevance.

"The great swatyantraveer Savarkar is not just a person but he is a thought, and that thought can never be the history. It will continue to be our present as well as future," the former chief minister told reporters.