A war of words between Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party has escalated a day after the head of the Sena, Uddhav Thackeray, criticized his former ally for Hindutva.
BJP leaders questioned the Sena on Hindutva by allying with Congress, which had allegedly insulted Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar. Sena, in a counterattack, asked why the BJP-led central government does not award Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civil honor, to Savarkar.
BJP spokesman Ram Kadam said Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray gave a “lesson on Hindutva” from the Savarkar Memorial during the Seine rally in Dussehra.
“The question is why did he not speak a single word of praise for Veer Savarkar. He is probably afraid of his new friends who have been repeatedly using derogatory comments against Veer Savarkar, ”he said.
However, the main spokesman for the Seine, Sanjay Raut, said there was no change in the party’s position on Savarkar. Speaking to media people on Monday, Raut said: “Shiv Sena never changed his position on Veer Savarkar. Whenever an inappropriate comment was made to insult him, we supported it. We have always had an emotional connection with him. Those who criticize us must answer why they did not give him Bharat Ratna. They have been in power for six years, ”said Raut.
Thackeray, during his speech at his first Dussehra rally after becoming prime minister, criticized BJP for questioning Shiv Sena’s Hindutva on Sunday. He said his father’s Hindutva, Balasaheb Thackeray, was not “ringing bells or utensils.” Thackeray even said that the BJP must learn Hindutva from its ideological source, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
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