Lok Sabha Erupts As Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde Cites Indira Gandhi’s 'Praise' For Savarkar

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde on Saturday invoked a letter written by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi praising V D Savarkar, sparking heated exchanges in the Lok Sabha between the treasury benches and Congress members.

Responding to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's earlier criticism of Savarkar, Shinde read out Gandhi's letter: "Veer Savarkar's daring defiance of the British government has its own importance in the annals of our freedom movement. I wish success to the plans to celebrate the birth centenary of this remarkable son of India."

Photo Credit: PTI

Shinde then questioned Rahul Gandhi: "Was your grandmother, Indira Gandhi, also against the Constitution in praising Savarkar? We take pride in Savarkar ji and his contribution to the nation."

The remarks caused uproar, with Congress MPs storming the Well of the House, demanding that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to respond, reported Hindustan Times. However, Shinde refused to yield the floor. Krishna Prasad Tenneti, presiding over the session, stated that Gandhi would only be allowed to speak once Shinde had finished his speech.

Accusing the Congress of ignoring constitutional issues, Shinde remarked: "Rahul ji has talked about everything except the Constitution. But he forgot that in 1984, the Congress was responsible for non-stop violence against Sikh brothers. In 1964, 1,070 communal riots occurred during the Congress rule. Remember how bullets were fired at 'kar sevaks' and the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts took place under their tenure? In the last 10 years, not a single bomb blast has happened in the country." Shinde also asked whether Shiv Sena (UBT) aligned with the Congress leader's remarks.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also criticised the Congress, saying: "Indira Gandhi had even funded Savarkar's trust. The Congress should stop spreading lies. Rahul Gandhi can never be Savarkar."

In his response, Rahul Gandhi said: "I had asked Indira Gandhi ji about her views on Savarkar, and she said, 'Savarkar apologised to the British... Gandhi ji went to jail, Nehru ji went to jail, but Savarkar ji sought forgiveness.'"

BJP leader Anurag Thakur also targeted Rahul Gandhi's speech, stating: "Some people carry the Constitution in their hands, but they can't even tell how many pages it has because they've never opened it."

Quoting senior advocate Gopal Shankar Narayan, Thakur said: "Our Constitution was crafted by the finest and most emancipated minds of the time and thankfully not directed by the confused Nehruvian social policy. Were it not for the strength of the document, Indira Gandhi would have been compelled to end the darkest episode in Independent India by ending the Emergency."

Thakur further added: "During his time, he spoke about cutting off thumbs, but it was you who massacred Sikhs. You carry the Constitution around, but you were the ones who destroyed it."

Rahul Gandhi, referencing the story of Eklavya, countered by saying the government was "chopping off the thumb of the youth, tillers, backward classes and the poor" through monopolies, the Agnipath scheme, the use of teargas against farmers, lateral entry policies, and paper leaks.

In a post on X, Shrikant Shinde stated: "The Shiv Sena vehemently condemns the shameless character assassination of Swatantryaveer Savarkar ji... This repeated affront to Savarkar ji is not just an insult to one man but an attack on the pride of every Maharashtrian and every patriotic Indian." He warned: "Any further disrespect towards Swatantryaveer Savarkar ji will be met with unwavering resistance."

The BJP also presented a letter from Indira Gandhi written in 1980, where she referred to Savarkar as the "prodigal son of India." Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared the letter on X, remarking: "This document is for Rahul Gandhi Ji as he made an incorrect statement in Lok Sabha about Veer Savarkar."

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and IT cell head Amit Malviya also shared excerpts of the debate on social media. Patra referred to Gandhi's comments on "tapasya generating heat" and Eklavya, stating: "Such knowledge comes from George Soros." Malviya quipped: "This round goes to Rahul Gandhi. He remains the undisputed king of bloopers."

Rahul Gandhi had earlier accused the BJP of "ridiculing"y Savarkar's legacy while citing Savarkar's view that "there was nothing Indian about the Constitution."