“Have Some Shame”: Home Minister Amit Shah Attacks VD Savarkar’s Critics

TIL Desk/National/Port Blair/ Veer Savarkar’s patriotism and valour cannot be questioned, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Friday, as he hit back at those doubting the freedom fighter’s commitment to India and its freedom struggle, and asked them to have “some shame”.

Mr Shah’s comments came against the backdrop of a massive row over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remark that VD Savarkar, a venerated Hindutva ideologue, had filed mercy petitions before the British at the advice of Mahatma Gandhi.

“How can you doubt the life, the credentials of a man who was sentenced to two life imprisonments, made to sweat like a plodder bullock (kolhu ka bail) to extract oil at this prison. Have some shame,” he told a gathering after garlanding the portrait of Savarkar at the cellular prison where hundreds of freedom fighters were incarcerated during India’s long freedom struggle.

Mr Shah said Savarkar had everything that he needed for a good life, but he chose the tough path, which indicated his unwavering commitment to the motherland.