Ever since the Shiv Sena compromised on its Hindutva ideology in order to join hands with the Congress and the NCP, it has been humiliated by its coalition partners over a key issue- the legacy of Veer Savarkar. The Congress in particular has been making some of the most crass and classless remarks about the Hindutva ideologue, whom the Shiv Sena describes as a “God-like figure”. While the Uddhav Thackeray led Sena claims to treat the visionary nationalist with reverence, it continues to stay in an alliance with the Congress, which has put the party in a very tight spot.
The Congress having realised that the Shiv Sena does not have the gall to walk out of the alliance in Maharashtra, has made up its mind to continuously humiliate the Sena by insulting Veer Savarkar. This time around, the Congress-affiliated Seva Dal stooped to a new low by unabashedly stating that Savarkar was in a homosexual relationship with Nathuram Godse. This shows the crass mentality of the Congress, which led to its making such lewd remarks. A booklet titled ‘Veer Savarkar Kitne Veer?’ was distributed among volunteers during the inauguration of the Seva Dal national training camp in Bhopal’s Bairagarh on Thursday, wherein the reprehensible remarks were made.
Shiv Sena could do nothing more than criticising the Congress over the lowly remarks about Veer Savarkar. Shiv Sena MP, Sanjay Raut said, “Veer Savarkar was a great man and will remain a great man. A section keeps talking against him. This shows the dirt in their mind.” It is absurd how the Shiv Sena acknowledges that the Congress has got dirt in its mind, yet it continues to remain in an alliance with such a party. There can be no plausible explanation except hypocrisy and megalomania behind this conundrum.
In fact, the Shiv Sena has never gone beyond criticising its ally on the latter’s controversial remarks about Savarkar. Towards the fag end of the last year, the Gandhi scion had said, “My name is Rahul Gandhi, not Rahul Savarkar.” The objectionable remark by the failed dynast had once again irked the Shiv Sena which had hit back at the Congress. Taking a jibe at the Congress, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had written an editorial in his ‘Rokthok’ column in party’s mouthpiece Saamana. He had dared those criticising Savarkar for allegedly apologising to the British to spend even 72 hours in the Andaman prison. He wrote, “Savarkar stayed in the Andaman prison for 14 years. The people who criticise him for apologising should dare to stay in that place for 72 hours.” Even then the Shiv Sena did not go beyond criticising its ally. Leave alone the question of walking out over the legacy of the visionary nationalist- Veer Savarkar, the Shiv Sena did not even threaten to walk out of the alliance over the reprehensible remarks made by the Congress.
In fact, it has been the strategy of the Congress and the NCP ever since the time of government formation to humiliate the Uddhav Thackeray led Sena by insulting Veer Savarkar.
Unfortunately, the Shiv Sena supremo has not shown the spine to take on the Congress and the NCP over this issue. According to a Jansatta report at the time of a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) between the three ruling allies in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena is believed to have been ready to give up on the demand to confer the highest civilian honour of the country, Bharat Ratna upon Veer Savarkar. Therefore, ever since the alliance came into being, the NCP and the Congress made it clear that they would insult Veer Savarkar in the face of their Hindutva ally which has been shamelessly witnessing the dilution of its ideological foundations.
The Uddhav Thackeray led party has already drawn a lot of fire for deserting its ideology and aligning with its rivals. Congress’ remarks have only worsened the tight spot that Shiv Sena found itself in. If Sena stays silent, it will further lose whatever political space it still enjoys, and therefore it has to speak up. However, with the Congress stooping to new lows and making lewd remarks about Savarkar, only condemnation might not be adequate on the part of the Shiv Sena. As Uddhav Thackeray finds it difficult to get rid of his megalomania and the CM chair, the Congress is continuously humiliating the Sena by making crass remarks about Savarkar. Shiv Sena however cannot do anything, but watch on meekly.