Team Thackeray’s Appreciation Post For Rahul Gandhi Amid Savarkar Row

Sanjay Raut, the head of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, hailed Rahul Gandhi today for demonstrating “compassion” and concern for a political colleague in the middle of his busy yatra, which had caused days of animosity over his remarks criticising Veer Savarkar.

“Rahul called me at night even though he was busy with the Bharat Jodo Yatra. He asked about my health, said ‘we were worried about you’. It is only human to feel sad that a political ally was framed in a false case and tortured for 110 days in jail,” Sanjay Raut tweeted in Marathi.

He then posted a longer message in English.

“Inspite of strong differences of opinion on some issues, inquiring on your political colleague is a sign of humanity…In times of political bitterness, such gestures are becoming rare. Rahulji is focusing on love and compassion in his yatra and hence it is getting a massive response,” Mr Raut wrote.

After Team Thackeray hinted at a dissolution of the ideologically divided Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over the “insult” to a Maharashtra icon, Rahul Gandhi’s gesture and the Sena leader’s shout-out signified reconciliation.

Rahul Gandhi criticised Veer Savarkar for pleading with the British for leniency while he was imprisoned while he was in Maharashtra on his Bharat Jodo Yatra. In addition, he charged that by turning to the British, he had betrayed great figures of independence like Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Mahatma Gandhi.

The remarks angered both Shiv Sena sections and were especially embarrassing for team Thackeray, which had been provoked by the BJP and the opposing Eknath Shinde faction because of its ties to the Congress.

According to Uddhav Thackeray, his party “Sanjay Raut told NDTV that he had “immense admiration” for Savarkar and that his supporters supported his philosophy. This topic shouldn’t have been raised by Congress.”

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