New Delhi: The Udhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, which expressed strong displeasure over Rahul Gandhi’s remark against Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, said it has resolved the issue with the Congress and will remain firm in fighting the BJP and the Narendra Modi government.
Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who met Rahul Gandhi over the issue, said that he received positive comments and assurances from Rahul Gandhi and the Congress regarding the concerns his party had raised.
Following the meeting which took place at the Congress parliamentary party office, Raut said in a tweet: "Met Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi today. Many important issues were also discussed in detail. Everything is fine. nothing to worry about."
In protest against Rahul Gandhi's remark, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday skipped an opposition meeting called by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Following his expulsion from Parliament, the Congress leader had addressed a press conference on March 25 during which he said that "my name is not Savarkar, I won't apologise".
Sources in the Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated that the party was upset over the remark, which came to haunt the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition.
Uddhav Thackeray issued a warning to Rahul Gandhi during his speech in Malegaon on Sunday, stating that the Sena (UBT) would not accept any disrespect towards Savarkar.
Thackeray emphasized that Savarkar was highly revered and that any insult towards him would not be tolerated. When asked if Rahul Gandhi had promised to refrain from bringing up the Savarkar issue again, Sanjay Raut declined to comment, stating that the matter had been resolved and there was no need to discuss it any further.