Reiterating the demand for Bharat Ratna to Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday advised both BJP and Congress to stop talking about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Savarkar.
“BJP and Congress should now stop talking about Pandit Nehru and Savarkar. Let’s talk about future now. Those two have done what they wanted to do in the past. Talking about them should be stopped by both the parties now,” Thackeray said during a press conference in Nagpur.
Thackeray said his advice is for both parties. “PM Narendra Modi keeps talking about Pandit Nehru and Congress on Savarkar. Both should focus on present and future issues,” he said.
During the debate on Constitution in LS, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had mentioned Savarkar, alleging that the Hindutva ideologue had said that there is nothing Indian in the Constitution.
“There is one family which has caused maximum damage to the Constitution. They spared no effort to undermine it. It started with the first PM Pandit Nehru and has since been running in the family,” Modi had said in his reply.
The Thackerays are known for having differences with the Congress on the issue and have always hailed Savarkar. This is for the first time that Thackeray has advised both Congress and even the BJP to stop fighting over history and focus on future.
Both Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray Tuesday met CM Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting was said to be to extend pleasantries on Fadnavis taking charge. Thackeray said he felt sorry for NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal who was denied a Cabinet berth. “We have received calls from those who are unhappy. Ultimately, experience is the best teacher. Let them first learn from it, we will see about them in near future,” he said.
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