On Pawar’s advice, Rahul Gandhi agrees not to rake up Savarkar: Sources

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi assured Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut that he would refrain from making remarks on Savarkar, as per sources..

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark on Savarkar stoked a controversy. (PTI photo)

By Sahil Joshi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar stepped in as mediator after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark on VD Savarkar sparked a rift in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra. Amid straining of ties with Uddhav Sena, Rahul Gandhi assured Sanjay Raut that he would avoid raking up references to Savarkar, sources said.

WHAT IS THE ROW?

Following his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone”.

The remark drew sharp reaction from the Shiv Sena (UBT), with party chief Uddhav Thackeray saying that he considered Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar as his “idol”, and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to refrain from “insulting” him.

The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had also skipped the meeting convened by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday as a mark of protest against Rahul Gandhi’s remarks targeting Savarkar.

Amid a growing rift, NCP leader Sharad Pawar stepped in as peacemaker. According to sources, Sharad Pawar had advised Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi during the Opposition meeting on Monday.

Sources added that Rahul Gandhi assured that he would avoid making references to VD Savarkar.

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