BJP Protests Against Karnataka Minister Kharge over Savarkar Remarks

Mumbai: Karnataka Congress minister Priyank Kharge’s controversial comments about VD Savarkar had its reverberations in Maharashtra on Friday with the BJP holding protests in various parts of the state for allegedly insulting the Hindutva ideologue. The Maharashtra BJP MLAs also protested on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur to condemn the Congress leader’s remarks.

The BJP and its youth wing held protests in major cities of the state including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Karjat, Solapur, Baramati, Nashik and Nagpur, where the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature is currently underway. Several BJP MLAs gathered on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur and raised slogans condemning the Karnataka minister’s comment.

Karnataka RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge, who is the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, had sparked a controversy with his comments saying that he will get the portrait of Veer Savarkar removed from the Assembly Hall in Suvarna Vidhana Soudha immediately if he was allowed to do so.

“I do not agree to those principles and ideologies where equality never existed. I will not agree to the ideologies which led to the killing of Mahatma Gandhiji,’’ Priyank said, adding that he would remove the portrait if allowed.

To denounce Kharge’s remarks against Savarkar, the BJYM activists took out a symbolic funeral procession in Nashik, whereas in Karjat the BJP activists held ‘Jode Maro’ protests by hitting the Congress MLA’s image with sandals.

BJP MLA from Bhosari, Mahesh Landge, questioned Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray's silence regarding Kharge's comments on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Landge wrote, "A Congress minister is saying that the photo of SwatyantraVeer Savarkar, the revolutionary son of Maharashtra, should be removed from the Vidhan Bhavan. How can Uddhav Thackeray, who is carrying forward the legacy of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, remain silent?”