Pawar steps in amid row over Rahul’s Savarkar remark, asks Cong to tone down attack
PTI, Mar 28, 2023, 1:16 PM IST
Amid strains in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi alliance over Rahul Gandhi’s strident criticism of V D Savarkar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has stepped in to play the peacemaker by conveying the Shiv Sena’s concerns on the issue to the Congress leadership.
Opposition leaders said Congress has agreed to tone down its criticism of Savarkar, which has led to unease among the NCP and Shiv Sena, its alliance partners in Maharashtra.
Pawar raised the issue during a meeting of opposition leaders convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday evening and made it clear that targeting Savarkar, a revered figure in Maharashtra, would not help the opposition alliance in the state, two leaders who attended the meeting told PTI.
Former Congress Presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were present at the meeting along with leaders of opposition parties.
Pawar also told Rahul Gandhi that Savarkar was never a member of the RSS and underscored that the real fight of the opposition parties was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
As the BJP stepped up attack on Rahul Gandhi and sought his apology for ”maligning” India on his recent tour to the UK, the former Lok Sabha member from Wayanad had said that he was not Savarkar and would not apologise.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had slammed Gandhi for his attack on Savarkar and said his outfit will not tolerate any insult of the freedom fighter.
The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had skipped the meeting convened by Kharge as a mark of protest against Gandhi’s remarks targeting Savarkar.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Scribe throws lapel microphone towards Sharad Pawar in Baramati; cops give clean chit
India delivers first batch of BrahMos missiles to Philippines
Air India cancels Dubai flights due to operational disruptions
2 Indian students killed in Scottish waterfall accident
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Zero voter turnout in 6 Nagaland districts amid shutdown call by ENPO over separate territory demand
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Injuries don’t define you: Mohammed Shami shares rehab update
Shivakumar desperately wants to become CM, says K’taka BJP chief Vijayendra
Scribe throws lapel microphone towards Sharad Pawar in Baramati; cops give clean chit
India delivers first batch of BrahMos missiles to Philippines
Air India cancels Dubai flights due to operational disruptions