Siddaramaiah slams BJP's Bharat Ratna proposal for Veer Savarkar

former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah slammed Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday for its plan to bestow Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar posthumously. He alleged that Savarkar was a 'murderer' and ded that he was one of accused in assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but charges could t be proved due to lack of evidence and he was freed. 

dressing his party worker Siddaramaiah said, " murderer of Mahatma Gandhi is getting Bharat Ratna! Those who conspired to eliminate Gandhiji are getting Bharat Ratna! Should BJP be allowed to gain a foothold in Mangaluru, kwn as a land of intellectuals?" 

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Claiming that accused in 90 out of 100 cases are acquitted, Siddaramaiah alleged that Savarkar was part of conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi. "w y have moved ahe to bestow Bharat Ratna to him! What will happen to nation? That's why somebody said that you give Bharat Ratna to Nathuram Godse too. Godse was one who assassinated Gandhiji," he said.

Alleging that RSS and Hindu Mahasabha never took part in freedom struggle, former chief minister said that y all h ganged up with British. Congress leer charged that Sangh Parivar, including BJP, diverted people's attention from real issues in last Lok Sabha elections.

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BJP manifesto 

Earlier, in a major poll promise, BJP on October 15, me a pitch for houring Swatantraveer Savarakar with Bharat Ratna - highest civilian hour awarded to Indians, as mentioned in its Maharashtra election manifesto. saffron party also pushed for Bharat Ratna for educational reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. BJP released its poll manifesto ahe of October 21 poll date in presence of CM Devendra Fnavis and party working president JP Nda in Mumbai. manifesto is titled - 'Sampanna, Samruddha, Samarth Maharashtra.' 

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About Veer Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who is also kwn as Veer Savarkar, was an Indian Independence fighter, politician, lawyer and formulator of 'Hindutva' philosophy. He founded Abhinav Bharat Society, which wrote extensively on Indian Independence movement. He was later arrested and sentenced for revolutionary activities to two life terms of imprisonment totalling fifty years and was moved to Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was later released in 1921. 

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(With PTI inputs)