Maha BJP says Rahul must apologise for Savarkar remarks before entering state

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must apologise and withdraw his remarks against late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar before entering Maharashtra state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said here on FridayIt evoked a sharp reaction from Bawankules Congress counterpart Nana Patole who said that Gandhi did not need the Bharatiya Janata Partys permission to visit the stateSpeaking in Nagpur Bawankule was responding to reporters questions about talk of Rahul Gandhis imminent visit to Mumbai to meet former chief minister Uddhav ThackerayThe Thackerayled Shiv Sena and Congress along with the Nationalist Congress Party constitute the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA alliance in MaharashtraThe BJP has accused Gandhi of repeatedly insulting Savarkar while the latter has time and again referred to the late freedom fighters apology to British rulers when he was incarcerated in Andamans Cellular JailWe do not have any objection if Rahul Gandhi visits Matoshree Thackerays home in Mumbai But Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly and purposely targeted Savarkar Therefore before coming to Maharashtra he must first apologise and take back his remarks against Savakar said BawankuleGandhi recently met NCP chief Sharad Pawar as part of his partys efforts to cement the Opposition unity It led to speculation about his likely meeting with Thackeray another allyAlso readThane TMC to impose fine for dust pollution in the citySpeaking at a rally in Malegaon in March Thackeray had said he considered Savarkar his idol and asked the Congress leader to refrain from insulting him He had also said that deliberate attempts were on to provoke GandhiMy name is not Savarkar my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone Rahul Gandhi had said last month responding to a query on calls by the BJP seeking his apology over various issuesReacting to Bawankules statement state Congress chief Patole said Bawankule does not get any value even in his own partyHow will he stop Rahul Gandhi Whenever Rahul Gandhi wants to come to Maharashtra he will come and Congress workers will welcome him with great enthusiasm Rahul Gandhi does not need permission from the BJP Bawankule or anyone to come to Maharashtra Patole saidBJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are afraid of Rahul Gandhi Dozens of ministers and MLAs are criticizing Rahul Gandhi every day Rahul Gandhis visit is not confirmed yet but he will visit Maharashtra soon No one can stop Rahul Gandhi from coming to Maharashtra he told reportersPatole also said that people are in distress due to inflation and unemployment farmers are facing immense hardship but the BJP government is not paying attentionPeople who are fed up with the BJPs governance showed it its place in the recent Legislative Council Assembly bypolls and local bodies elections the Congress leader further saidThe BJP was trying to expand itself by doing politics of oppression through the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation CBI he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever