Pune: Karnataka Politics Heats: Tejashwi Surya Stands Firm on Preserving Savarkar’s Legacy
Pune, 25th November 2023: The political landscape in Karnataka is witnessing a series of changes since the Congress government took charge. Recent developments include the lifting of the ban on cow slaughter, the discontinuation of subsidies to temples, and the celebration of Tipu Sultan Jayanti. Now, there are reports of a move to remove the portrait of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar from Karnataka’s legislative assembly.
The concerns over these changes prompted a call to action from the former national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Yuva Morcha. Urging the public to uphold the teachings of Savarkar and embrace ‘Akhand Saavdhan,’ the appeal was directed to Tejashwi Surya.
In a related event, Tejashwi Surya participated in the release of the book “Hindutva: Swatantryaveer Savarkar, an ideological, social, and political concept.” Authored by Akshay Jog, the book was launched by Bhartiya Vichar Sadhana and Swatantryaveer Social Society. The event also saw the presence of Dr Jayant Kulkarni, Executive Director of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Girish Affle, President of Bharatiya Vikha Sadhana, and Srinivas Kulkarni. Additionally, the occasion marked the launch of the Bharatiya Vikha Sadhana website.
Tejashwi Surya emphasized the continued relevance of Savarkar’s thoughts, citing their influence on the central government’s new education policy and foreign policy. Describing Savarkar as a multifaceted personality encompassing roles as a revolutionary, poet, thinker, historian, and social activist, Surya highlighted Savarkar’s proactive approach to bringing about societal change.
The mention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s refusal to apologize by stating “I am not Savarkar” prompted a response from Surya, asserting that even in a hundred lifetimes, one cannot become Savarkar. Surya expressed criticism, suggesting that the residents of Maharashtra ought to scrutinize the commendation of Balasaheb Thackeray’s perspectives by Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray and hinted at potential protests if Savarkar’s portrait is removed from the Karnataka Legislature.
Jayant Kulkarni emphasized the historical significance of Savarkar’s presentation of the idea of Hindutva and noted its alignment with the current central government’s ideology. The discussion also touched upon the tradition of ignoring personal criticism against Savarkar for the past 75 years.
The author, Akshay Jog, provided insights into Savarkar’s Hinduism, addressing opposition from the Congress and portraying Savarkar as a humanist thinker. The event was moderated by Umesh Khandelwal, marking a notable gathering reflecting the current political discourse in Karnataka. The upcoming session of the Karnataka Legislature, beginning on December 4 in Belgaum, adds anticipation to the ongoing narrative.
