New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday hit back at the opposition over questioning Veer Savarkar's contribution to India's freedom struggle.
The minister said that questioning the valour and patriotism of Veer Savarkar is an insult to the sentiment of 130 crore countrymen.
Addressing an audience at Andaman and Nicobar Islands where Shah is on a three-day visit, he said that no government has given the title of 'Veer' to Savarkar, but the belief of 130 crore people who acknowledge his courage and patriotism.
"It's unfortunate and shameful that some people are questioning Savarkar's patriotism. They don't admire the sentiment of 130 crore Indians for whom he will always remain a 'Veer' freedom fighter. The title of 'Veer' is bestowed to Savarkar by 130 crore Indians, not by any government or administration.
"These (130 crore) people acknowledge the courage and patriotism of a man who was sentenced to two life imprisonments where he was made to sweat like a plodder bullock to extract oil at this prison. Those questioning his love for the motherland should have some shame," he said.
Savarkar sent a message across the world from cellular jail that inflicting extreme adversaries and torture will not deter one's determination for freedom, Shah added.
The Home Minister's response has come after a massive controversy erupted over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's recent remarks where he called Mahatma Gandhi behind Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's mercy petition to British occupation that he filed during his imprisonment at cellular jail.
Singh has stated this during the launch of a book on Savarkar at Ambedkar International Centre on Tuesday where he had alleged that there was a deliberate conspiracy to defame Savarkar and that it was on Gandhi’s advice that he wrote his mercy petitions.
The event was also attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Singh's remarks have attracted reactions from several opposition leaders, who accused the Union Minister of attempting to alter history.
The Union minister is on a three-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to take stock of various development initiatives in the archipelago.
UNI ASH ASN