Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has created controversy by giving a statement on Savarkar. Dinesh Gundu Rao has claimed that VD Savarkar was not against cow slaughter as he himself was a non-vegetarian. Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “Savarkar was a non-vegetarian and was not against cow slaughter. Despite being a Brahmin, he ate meat and also openly promoted meat eating.” On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, he also compared the ideas of Gandhi and Savarkar. Gundu Rao was speaking at the launch of the Kannada edition of journalist Dhirendra Jha’s book ‘Gandhi’s Assassins: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Thoughts on India’.
The minister further said that Savarkar’s ideology was inclined towards fundamentalism whereas Gandhi’s beliefs were deeply democratic. He said that Gandhi’s actions reflected tolerance and inclusivity which separated him from fundamentalist thinking. Gundu Rao wrote on social media platform Gandhi’s belief in democracy is a powerful response to the growing influence of Savarkar’s ideology and the rising wave of fundamentalism in today’s times.
The country will not tolerate the insult of Veer Savarkar – BJP
In response to Gundu Rao’s statement, BJP MP Anurag Thakur called Congress a ‘factory of lies’ and warned that the country will not tolerate any kind of disrespect towards Savarkar. He alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spread lies across the world to malign India’s image and his party has now started defaming freedom fighters. Anurag Thakur said, “India will not tolerate the insult of Veer Savarkar. Congress leaders have not learned anything from Veer Savarkar and have only enjoyed power.”
Ranjit Savarkar protested
Meanwhile, VD Savarkar’s grandson Ranjit Savarkar has said that Savarkar had strongly supported cow protection and legal action would be taken against any Congress leader who insults him. Earlier in March, Ranjit had accused Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly insulting Savarkar for his political gains.
