Thackeray defends Savarkar over Digvijay''s statement

Mumbai, Jan 31 (PTI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeraytoday defended freedom fighter Veer Savarkar against CongressGeneral Secretary Digvijay Singh''s statement that Savarkar wasthe first to moot the two-nation theory that led to partition.

"Singh is distorting the history to attract Muslimvotes. Savarkar was a supporter of the united India till theend and against creation of Pakistan," Thackeray said in aneditorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana''.

"During 1945 elections, Mahatma Gandhi assured thatthe country would not be divided. But Savarkar had no faith inGandhi''s assurance and repeatedly said "Congress would acceptthe partition and vote to Congress means supporting thepartition," Thackeray said.

But no one trusted Savarkar and then RSS chief andleader of Hindu Mahasabha Dr S P Mukherjee and few otherswithdrew from the election in 1945, he said. Later, RSS chiefconfessed to the mistake, he added.

"Savarkar was totally against the partition but he wasisolated. He opened a front against creation of Pakistan. Inorder to give global publicity to his voice, Savarkar sent atelegraph to United Press of America, a news agency in 1944against the formation of the Pakistan," the Sena chief said.

In his last effort, Savarkar convened a conference ofHindus on August 8, 1947 to appeal people to continue theirbattle for united India but in vain, he said.

Singh had said Savarkar was the first to moot thetwo-nation theory which was later adopted by Muhammad AliJinnah and that led to the partition.