BJP leader Ashish Shelar says, 'Will protest against Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remarks'

BJP MLA Ashish Shelar/ Pic/X

Ashish Shelar, Bharatiya Janata Party's Mumbai unit chief said his party will stage protest against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks against Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, stated a PTI report. The Congress leader has often remarked that Savarkar apologised to the British to get out of jail which has stirred controveries.

How this Bandra bookstall is keeping the tradition of newspaper reading alive

1 year agoPHOTO GALLERY

Shelar, while talking to the reporters, said that the Gandhi scion has consistently insulted VD Savarkar. "Our party will stage a strong protest this evening near the venue where he will be speaking," Shelar was quoted as saying in the report.

Gandhi is in city to attend the meeting of I-N-D-I-A bloc. This is the third meeting of the bloc since its formation in June this year. The group will be discussing its strategy to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections due in 2024 and inclusion of new allies. The Opposition bloc on the sidelines will also be unveiling their logo.

Shelar takes a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray

The BJP leader also took a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shelar said that he (Uddhav) despite being a staunch follower of Savarkar, he keeps quiet when Rahul Gandhi makes objectionable statements.

Shelar while talking to the reporters said that Thakceray and his party workers are playing hosts for those who once hated Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray. Shelar alleged, "Thackeray and his party workers have become hosts to people who used to hate Sena. These people (members of opposition bloc INDIA) hated (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray several years. They all have now come together and Uddhav Thackeray is serving them."

The BJP MLA also trained his guns at the political heavyweight, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar; he said that Pawar and Thackeray must feel "ashamed" for laying down a red carpet for the leaders "who used to hate Maharashtra".

In another scathing remark, he said that the members of Opposition bloc I-N-D-I-A have not come together to save the democracy as they claim but are "trying to save their families".

Nearly 63 representatives from 28 political parties will be attending the third meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I-N-D-I-A) on August 31 and September 1 at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.