BJP Minister defends 'Bharat Ratna for Savarkar' pitch, slams Congress

Agriculture Minister in Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in Haryana, OP Dhankar, has responded to Congress' objection over BJP's promise to award Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar. He said, "Not even a single Congressman has gone to 'kala pani'. I want to ask Manmohan Singh Ji did he know any Congressman given kala pani punishment? But Gandhiji plate was there. I asked at cellular prison whether Gandhi had been to kala pani? I was told he never came but one of his letters did.

'Congress can't tolerate anyone getting bigger than Gandhis and Nehru'

He added, "Whereas Savarkar is a man who spent his life in kala pani, saw his brother and colleagues killed by hanging and yet Congress couldn't bear his plate to be put up in that prison. Congress can't tolerate anyone getting bigger than Gandhis and Nehru and so (they) don't want to acknowledge anyone else's contribution in the freedom movement," said Dhankar on the sidelines of a public meeting he addressed while requesting people to vote for him. He is contesting Assembly elections from Badli seat.

Dhankar, who had been the coordinator for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious project of State of Unity, said in Andaman there is a place where the death penalty was given to 79 prisoners. "Who are these 79 people? When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose secured independence for Andaman and Nicobar and hoisted flag there. But they did not let it come out. What if Nehru's flag looks pale in front of his? And it was Manmohan government under whose rule Savarkar's plate was removed," said the BJP leader.

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'Not in favour of the Hindutva ideology that Savarkar Ji patronised'

While addressing media in Mumbai, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said, "We are not against Savarkar, but the question is we are not in favour of the Hindutva ideology that Savarkar Ji patronised and stood for." 

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BJP's manifesto promises Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar

In BJP's Maharashtra manifesto, the saffron party made a pitch for honouring Swatantraveer Savarakar with the Bharat Ratna - the highest civilian honour awarded to Indians. It also pushed for Bharat Ratna for educational reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. BJP released its poll manifesto ahead of the Oct 21 poll date in the presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis and party working president J P Nadda in Mumbai. The Manifesto is titled - 'Sampanna, Samruddha, Samarth Maharashtra.' 

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(With ANI inputs)