Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Oct 19: "I vehemently condemn the statement given by opposition leader of the assembly and former CM Siddaramaiah in which he has compared patriot Vinayak Damodar Savarkar to Nathu Ram Godse. This statement is the symbol of Siddaramaiah's cheap mentality. He should apologise to the public of Karnataka immediately," said chief minister B S Yediyurappa.
Yediyurappa took out a press release on Friday, October 18 in this regard. He further said, "Veer Savarkar was a dedicated freedom fighter and pure patriot of the country. Some leaders of the Congress party have expressed their support in giving Bharat Ratna award to Veer Savarkar. Giving a statement against such a personality, with the intention of getting cheap publicity does not augur well for Siddaramaiah."
Siddaramaiah
Giving his opinion on the same issue, MLC and chief secretary of state BJP, Ravi Kumar said, "The criticism that is made on freedom fighter Veer Savarkar is the indication of the collapse of the Congress party. There is no need of a better example than this for the intellectual insolvency of the Congress leaders."
"Though there were investigation reports, Congress has time and again said that Veer Savarkar had played a role in the killing of father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. By this, the Congress has insulted a great soldier of freedom struggle," said Ravi Kumar in his press statement.
Ravi Kumar further added, "This is a clear indication that the Congress party is going to against the people in the coming days by these statements that mar the history of Indian independence struggle. No one has forgotten the episode of Rahul Gandhi, who had criticized that RSS was the mastermind of killing Mahatma Gandhi, and subsequently tendered his unconditional apology in the court."
Ravi Kumar warned the Congress of fierce protest and said, "It will not be a surprise if the Congress gets decimated from the political scene of the country by these kind of irresponsible statements. The Congress leaders, who have insulted Veer Savarkar have to seek apology of the soldiers and the public of India. If not, we will be forced to hold a fierce protest against the habit of the Congress of insulting the freedom fighters of the country."
Ridiculing former CM Siddarmaiah for his statement on Veer Savarkar, minister K S Eshwarappa tweeted, "BJP is trying to give Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar. Honourable Siddaramaiah, if it were you, you would have recommended Jinna for Bharat Ratna. Isn't it?"