MoS PMO shares Indira Gandhi's 'remarkable son of India' Savarkar note

Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Prime Minister Office shared a letter by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. In the letter which appears to be a response to a group called Swatantrayaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, the former PM wished success to its plans to celebrate the birth centenary of Savarkar. She also lauds Savarkar saying that his 'daring defiance of British government' is significant to Indian history. The former PM who had a declared a state of emergency between 1975-1977 also calls him Savarkar a 'remarkable son of India'.

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MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh tweets Indira Gandhi's letter lauding Savarkar

Dr Singh who is the MoS PMO tweeted a copy of her letter. He commented on the letter saying – '#IndiraGandhi ,as Prime Minister, praises Veer Sarvarkar in writing.' The BJP promised in its manifesto for Maharashtra ahead of the assembly polls that it would request for Bharat Ratna for Savarkar. Ever since the issue has raked up a controversy with several parties in the Opposition opposing the demand.

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Read Dr Jitendra Singh's tweet

BJP Working President JP Nadda and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis released the party's manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. They made a major poll promise wherein they made a pitch for honouring Swatantraveer Savarakar with the Bharat Ratna - the highest civilian honour awarded to Indians. The party also pushed for Bharat Ratna for educational reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. The BJP poll manifesto was released ahead of October 21 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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PM Modi praises Savarkar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra's Akola hailed Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. he said that Savarkar's values are the reason that nationalism is considered as a basis of nation-building. "Because of Veer Savarkar's values we put nationalism as a basis of nation-building," said Prime Minister Modi. PM Modi further said that till date several opposition leaders speak ill about Savarkar.

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