Pune: Rahul Gandhi's comment on Veer Savarkar in Maharashtra left the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance at the risk of falling apart.
The fragile alliance, held together by an already weakened Shiv Sena fraction of Uddav Thackeray and the Congress, felt huge tremor after Rahul Gandhi said Savarkar wrote mercy petition and got pension from the British.
Though at loggerheads with the BJP, Shiv Sena is proud of taking inspiration from Savarkar's extreme views to the extent of idolising him.
Shiv Sena (Uddav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut quickly butted in to question Rahul Gandhi for his comment.
Raut warned that Rahul's comment could cause cracks in Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, but ensured that the MVA would not collapse.
Rahul was touring the state on Tuesday as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra when he said in Washim that tribal leader Birsa Munda refused to bow down to British despite being offered land, choosing death.
Rahul added that for the BJP and RSS, Savarkar who had written mercy petition to the British is an idol.
Raut doubled down on Rahul Gandhi saying the congress leader had said the same about Savarkar in the past as well, and he wondered why Rahul was targetting Savarkar again and again.
However, Raut said that Bharat Jodo Yatra had drawn huge response in Maharashtra and wished if only Rahul had not raised the issue of Savarkar.
Shiv Sena spokesperson added that Savarkar is a hero for his party and will continue to idolize him.
He asked why the BJP is shying away from honouring Veer Savarkar with Bharat Ratna, despite Shiv demanding it for many years.