Amid Savarkar row, Uddhav Thackeray snubs Congress, to skip key meet

MUMBAI: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said on Monday it will skip a meeting of opposition parties called by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his Delhi residence over Rahul Gandhi's comments against Vinayak 'Veer' Savarkar.
The move comes a day after Thackeray said Savarkar is an idol for them and they will not tolerate any insult to Veer Savarkar. State Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday tried to bring down the heat over Gandhi's Saturday statement, saying his party and Sena have always held different views on Savarkar but will continue to fight together to save democracy.The MVA was intact, he added.


"We have clarified our position on Veer Savarkar. I have spoken about this to Rahul Gandhi in the past too. I have also spoken to their senior leaders, like Jairam Ramesh... I will go to Delhi and meet Rahul Gandhi in a day or two and discuss this issue with him," said Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut, announcing skipping the Delhi meet.

The Sena snub to Congress marks a quick escalation of Sena (UBT)'s displeasure, coming a day after Uddhav Thackeray said at a rally in Malegaon that they have placed Veer Savarkar on a pedestal and though Sena (UBT) has supported Rahul Gandhi, he (Uddhav) would not tolerate any insult to Veer Savarkar. Thackeray used to lead a government with allies Congress and NCP, and the stand could stress the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state.

"We have clarified our position on Veer Savarkar. I have spoken about this to Rahul Gandhi in the past too. I have also spoken to their senior leaders, like Jairam Ramesh. We have told them that Veer Savarkar is a question of faith for us," said Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut
Saamna, the party's mouthpiece, also took on Gandhi over his Savarkar remarks during a presser on Saturday following his disqualification as an MP. It said Gandhi keeps saying, 'I'm not afraid. Even if I'm in jail, I'll keep asking questions'.

"Repeated statements like 'My surname is not Savarkar' will not create this fearlessness and will not break the faith of the people towards Veer Savarkar. Veer Savarkar is great in his place. No one will get the strength to fight like Savarkar by slandering him as 'maafiveer' for no reason," said Saamna.

"By making defamatory statements against Savarkar, the sympathy gained by Rahul Gandhi will start ebbing. This will, for sure, put the Maharashtra Congress in an uncomfortable position."