Congress amends Savarkar stance

With Maharashtra Assembly elections round the corner, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government yesterday tried to distance itself from the Savarkar controversy.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government did not agree with Mani Shankar Aiyer's personal opinion on Savarkar. "It is his (Aiyer's) personal opinion, we do not agree with what he said about Veer Savarkar," said Azad.

The statement appears to have stemmed from the opinion expressed by several Maharashtra leaders who felt that the issue was tailor-made for electoral hara kiri by the party.

A statement proclaiming Savarkar a great patriot by the Nationalist Congress Party, an ally in the Democratic Front government in the state, further aggravated the situation.

In Parliament, the Congress refrained from giving up on Aiyer, but after the announcement of Assembly election dates, it's a different story.

Aiyer had also said despite the Congress opposing installation of Savarkar's portrait in the Central Hall of Parliament, it won the Maharashtra Assembly polls five years ago. "Savarkar is no issue," he said.

The Congressmen do not agree with him. "The situation is not the same. At that time, the BJP-Sena government was battling anti-incumbency. Now the shoe is on the other foot and this may result in yet another issue which would bury us," said a Congress leader from Maharashtra.

The BJP, meanwhile, is not willing to give an inch on the issue, realising that it is onto a good thing. "If Azad's statement me-ans that they will restore Savar-kar's plaque on the memorial, we will accept it. But we don't want only words," said BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley.

The Sena has launched an agitation over the issue and plans to hold a series of meetings condemning Aiyer's remarks linking Savarkar to the plot to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.

History has suddenly become the most important factor influencing the election of a future government in Maharashtra.

Condemning the agitation by Shiv Sena against union Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and his party for 'insulting' Veer Savarkar, Congress yesterday said the opposition was 'politicising' the issue in view of the October 13 Assembly elections in the state.

"Sena is politicing the Savarkar issue", Maharashtra Pradesh Congress chief Prabha Rau told reporters after the seat-sharing meeting of Congress and NCP held at 'Parnakuti', official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, here.

Rau said everyone was aware of the immense contribution made by Veer Savarkar in the freedom struggle and the Sena should follow the freedom fighter's principles instead of using the issue for 'political gains'.

The MPCC chief said her party would give a 'befitting' reply to the opposition if they raise the issue during the election campaign.

State NCP chief R R Patil said his party has already expressed its displeasure over the remarks of union minister on Savarkar.

NCP had said yesterday said that they would submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to restore the plaque containing Savarkar's quotes at Andaman Central Jail.

On seat sharing with alliance partners, he said talks were still on.

Leaders of both Congress and NCP were holding talks with smaller parties.