India’s opposition parties are up in arms over RSS head Mohan Bhagwat’s endorsement of Bharat Ratna for Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, sparking accusations of historical revisionism and political opportunism.
Leading the dissent, CPI(M) MP John Britas warned that such a step would etch a ‘shameful page’ in the nation’s annals. He recounted Savarkar’s notoriety for repeated clemency pleas to British jailers, framing him as a proponent of communal discord rather than unity in the independence era. ‘Elevating hate and division to the Bharat Ratna pedestal betrays our freedom ethos,’ Britas proclaimed.
SP’s Rajiv Rai piled on, mocking the irony of rewarding surrender. ‘If apology letters qualify for top honors, we’ll need a new award category,’ he quipped. Rai challenged the ideological thrust: ‘Will we instruct kids to apologize to tyrants in crises? The masses won’t buy it.’
Rai extended his barbs to AIMIM’s Owaisi, reimagining the leader’s UP taunt as a humble request for Yogi’s leniency. On the burqa CM remark from AIMIM’s state boss, Rai retorted: ‘Start with MLA victory; daydreams follow success.’
At its core, the row dissects Savarkar’s enigmatic journey: from Hindu Mahasabha founder to alleged Gandhi conspiracy links. Supporters laud his anti-colonial writings; opponents spotlight compromising actions. With Bharat Ratna’s prestige at stake, expect prolonged parliamentary showdowns and street protests, mirroring India’s fractured historical memory.