With Sena under fire over stance on Savarkar, MNS organises seminar on 'Swatantryaveer'

Even as confusion persists over Shiv Sena’s indecisive stance on Veer Savarkar, MNS has organised a seminar on literature and thoughts of freedom fighter. poster of event features both MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his son Amit who recently joined politics.

Scheduled to take place at 3 pm on February 27 in Mumbai, seminar will involve famous Marathi actor Sharad Ponkshe as presenter. This development comes weeks after Thackeray garlanded portrait of Savarkar at MNS statewide convention. It is being seen as a tactic to gradually take over ideological dominated by ruling Shiv Sena. 

poster of Savarkar seminar is here:

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Shiv Sena's dilemma on Savarkar

Addressing Bharat Bachao rally in national capital in December 2019, Rahul Gandhi refused to apologise for his ‘Rape in India’ comment, saying that he was t ‘Rahul Savarkar’. He was indirectly referring to Savarkar’s alleged apology to British seeking an early release from Andaman jail. This resulted in a furious backlash from BJP leaders including Devendra Fadnavis. 

Despite Shiv Sena's traditional support for Savarkar, it was perceived to have moved away from its Hindutva stance owing to compulsions of its alliance with NCP and Congress. ideological dilemma for Sena came to fore on this issue. Initially, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut defended Savarkar both on Twitter as well as in Saamana newspaper.

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Taking an indirect dig at its ally Congress for painting freedom fighter Veer Savarkar in a poor light, Raut dared those accusing Savarkar of apologising to British to spend even 72 hours in Andaman prison. However, party supremo Uddhav Thackeray refused to comment on Rahul Gandhi’s remark that had sparked off controversy in first place. On February 13, Fadnavis once again questioned Sena on its position pertaining to insulting articles about Savarkar appearing in Maharashtra Congress mouthpiece 'Shidori'. 

Devendra Fadnavis remarked, "In February 8 edition of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, dirty articles have been written about Swantantryaveer Savarkar. name of article is ‘t Swatantryaveer, but Maafiveer’." He added, "If Congress continues to write against Veer Savarkar, n country will never forgive party. What is Shiv Sena's stance on this issue?"

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