Sena hits out at BJP, asks why no Bharat Ratna to Savarkar yet

Mumbai: A day after the BJP slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for being silent on the Congress's criticism of V D Savarkar, the Shiv Sena on Monday hit back and asked why the BJP has not yet given Bharat Ratna to the late Hindutva ideologue.

The Congress is Shiv Sena's ally in the state's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also includes the NCP as a partner.

Talking to reporters here, Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut reiterated that Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, be given to the "great and Hindutvavadi leader" Savarkar.

During the Shiv Sena's annual Dussehra rally on Sunday, party president Thackeray delivered his speech at the Savarkar hall in Dadar area here due to COVID-19 norms instead of the usual venue, the sprawling Shivaji Park.

Later, state BJP spokesperson KeshavUpadhye accused the ruling party of compromising on Hindutva for power.

"Uddhav Thackeray did not say a word about the Congress criticising Savarkar and now he had to address the Dussehra rally from the Savarkar auditorium. This is poetic justice," Updhaye further said.

Reacting to the comments, Raut on Monday said the Shiv Sena has "never kept quiet on the issues relating to Savarkar and it will never do so".

Without naming the BJP, Raut said the party should browse through history to know the Shiv Senas stand on issues involving

Savarkar.