Savarkar's grandson confident of Bharat Ratna amid possible Sena-NCP-Cong tie-up

Ranjeet Savarkar, the grandson of Veer Savarkar, said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will get the freedom fighter a Bharat Ratna even if the Sena ties up an alliance with NCP-Congress to form government in Maharashtra. Speaking to news agency ANI, Ranjeet said, "I'm confident that Uddhav Thackeray will never change his stand on Hindutva and Veer Savarkar. I think he will still try to defend him tooth and nail if Congress tries to attack him." The Shiv Sena has often supported the call to confer India's highest civilian award to Veer Savarkar despite opposition from Congress and those contesting Savarkar's contribution to the freedom struggle and the founder of Hindutva ideology.

"As far as I know Uddhav Ji, he won't ever leave his Hindutva ideology and back off from demand of Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar for power. I'm confident, Shiv Sena will change Congress' stance on Hindutva," said Ranjeet. When asked why he thinks Congress will accommodate Shiv Sena's demand, Ranjeet said that for the sake of power and votes, the grand old party will do anything. "I'm confident that in the end, Congress will end up having Hindutva as its main ideology and if Uddhav Ji achieves it then I think it'll be a very good thing."

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About Veer Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who is also known as Veer Savarkar, was an Indian Independence fighter, politician, lawyer and the formulator of 'Hindutva' philosophy. He founded the Abhinav Bharat Society, which wrote extensively on the Indian Independence movement. He was later arrested and sentenced for revolutionary activities to two life terms of imprisonment totaling 50 years and was moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He was later released in 1921.

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BJP's poll promise

In a major poll promise ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP made a pitch for honouring Savarkar with the Bharat Ratna – the highest civilian honour awarded to Indians, as mentioned in its manifesto. The saffron party had also pushed for Bharat Ratna for educational reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. BJP released its poll manifesto ahead of the October 21 polls in the presence of then-CM Devendra Fadnavis and party working president JP Nadda in Mumbai.

READ | BJP Seeks Bharat Ratna For Veer Savarkar In Maharashtra Manifesto

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