Uddhav Thackeray Warns Rahul Gandhi Of "Cracks" In Opposition Alliance Over Savarkar "Insult"

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray cautioned Rahul Gandhi against insulting Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, as it could result in "cracks" in the opposition alliance.

Thackeray said this when addressing a rally in Malegaon.

Rahul Gandhi, in a press conference Saturday (25 March), had rebuffed his disqualification as a Member of Parliament (MP) by saying: "My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi, and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone."

Gandhi was disqualified after a court order in Surat convicted him in a criminal defamation case over his remark painting people with the Modi surname in a negative light.

In response to Gandhi's Savarkar reference, Thackeray said he considers the Hindutva icon to be his "idol" and "god," and urged the Congress leader not to disrespect him.

The Maharashtra leader said Savarkar's 14-year imprisonment in the Andaman cellular jail involved "unimaginable torture" and was a form of sacrifice. "We will not tolerate the insult of Savarkar," he said.

Opposition alliance may fracture if Rahul Gandhi continues to insult Savarkar, he warned.

Thackeray, whose Sena faction is in alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), asked Gandhi not to get provoked and instead unite to "save India's democracy."