Congress calls Veer Savarkar “traitor”

23 March, New Delhi

Amid raging debate on ‘nationalism’, Congress today scathingly attacked the BJP and its ideological mentor, RSS on the occasion of ”Shahid Diwas” by calling late freedom fighter Veer Savarkar as “traitor”.

The BJP condemned the remarks and said it was a ‘depiction’ of their mentality. Earlier, Congress had released a combined photo of Veer Savarkar and Shahid Bhagat Singh on micro blogging site, Twitter with a controversial title “Shahid versus traitor”.

Bhagat Singh’s picture was captioned as ”Shahid” where as “traitor” was mentioned on Savarkar’s photo.The Congress justified its remarks by saying Bhagat Singh fought for freedom from British rule in India while Savarkar begged for mercy to become their slave.

At the end of both the photographs, one can find the mention of petitions submitted in the jails they were thrown in.As per the Congress, Bhagat Singh lodged in Lahore jail in 1931 had written to the Britishers that there is a war like situation between India and Britain.

”We are fighting the war and are prisoners of war.” he had written.Citing Savarkar’s case, Congress said he had petitioned from Cellular jail in Andaman that if the British government shows mercy and releases him then he would vehemently uphold their constitution.

He would then be loyal to the British government which is a precondition to uphold constitutional progress in the country then so that British rule in India could run without any hassles.Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi during a discussion on passage of a ‘thank you’ motion in Lok Sabha on President’s speech, he had sarcastically remarked that ”Gandhiji is ours and Savarkar is yours.”Gandhjiji talks about non-violence where as Savarkar talks about violence.

Much uproar was created in the House on this comment.Amidst all this, BJP’s senior leader and union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Congress’s comments are a reflection of their mentality and the party has ”lost its mental balance.”