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politics

BJP takes control of put a question mark over the had also called for deferring hen recently Bharat ratna for Savarkar:
However, the boycott has
any electoral exercise until
Congress
BDcs in kashmir exercise. In the absence of situation returned to normal. leader Ab- to Be or not to Be iS the queStion
the three major mainstream
At the same time, nobody
hishek Manu
Mainstream parties such as National Conference, parties which between them in Kashmir wanted an elec- W Singhvi Fresh controversy erupts as BJP tries to push for the country’s top honour
PDP and Congress boycotted the Block control more than two-thirds tion immediately after the praised Vinayak Damodar for the formulator of the Hindutva philosophy, writes charanjit ahuja
of the electoral space in Val-
revocation of Article 370. The
Savarkar through a tweet,
Development Council polls, reports riyaz wani ley and also wield a signifi- sense of shock in the Valley Singhvi received a call from a
cant political clout in Jammu from the move is yet to sink senior party leader about the Savarkar has been catapulted Mahasabha.
n October 24, as which 27 chairpersons have and Ladakh regions, the BDC in. Shutdown continues and tweet and its timing. The call to national consciousness yet A Bharat Ratna might
J&K held Block been elected unopposed. The polls have hardly been of in- public transport remains off was reportedly made at the again with BJP and Shiv Sena just be a very small way
Development government granted 33 per terest to the people. This also the roads. Though the gov- behest of Congress President clamouring for posthumous of correcting this major
Council elec- cent reservation for women, created a difficult situation ernment has lifted advisory Sonia Gandhi who was upset conferment of the Bharat historical wrong, comments
O tions, its first besides the Scheduled Castes. for the governments in the on the tourists visiting the with party’s troubleshooter Ratna on him. Dr. Vikram Sampath, Senior
electoral exercise following A total of 105 BDCs were state and New Delhi which Valley and also post-paid for his tweet. Prime Minister Narendra Fellow at the Nehru Memo-
the revocation of Article 370, reserved for women. could not make the polls ap- mobiles have been restored, What Singhvi had Modi and Shiv Sena Presi- rial Museum and Library and
major mainstream parties There are around 39,000 pear credible in the absence the situation has to go a long tweeted, “I personally don’t dent Uddhav Thackerary author of Savarkar: Echoes
like National Conference, the panches and sarpanches of the major parties. way before it can be called as subscribe to Savarkar’s have repeatedly invoked from a Forgotten Past. Prime
PDP and Congress boycotted. across the state. In the Valley “Here we had an elec- normal. The BJP did not even ideology but that doesn’t take Savarkar in election rallies Minister Narendra Modi
The BJP was the only major alone, there are 19,578 panch- toral contest and the BJP was away the fact that he was across Maharashtra. Indeed considers Savarkar as one
party contesting the election. es and sarpanches. After the the only party in the ring,” About 1,065 an accomplished man who stalwarts like Sardar Patel of his idols and Union home
As many as 1,065 elected conclusion of the election, Member Parliament Hasnain played part in the freedom or Dr BR Ambedkar richly minister Amit Shah is an
panchayat members tried the government is set to Masoodi told Tehelka. “There elected struggle, fought for Dalit deserve the Bharat Ratna ardent follower of Savarkar.
their luck in the first-ever establish District Develop- was no other contestant, no panchayat rights and went to jail for the for long and so is Savarkar Little doubt that BJP leader-
BDC polls, the second-tier ment Boards to complete the opposition. So, the BJP can country”. In the aftermath for his different voice for ship is seriously considering
of panchayats, in Jammu, three-tier Panchayat System declare itself a winner”. members tried of the tweet, even former freedom struggle. • leader in row VD Savarkar the idea of bestowing India’s
Kashmir and Ladakh for 283 in the Union Territories. They The boycott, however, luck in the first- Prime Minister Manmohan highest civilian honour
BDC seats. Only BJP and Pan- are Halqa Panchayats, Block didn’t force the state and cen- Singh had to clarify at a press When Indira praised Bharat Ratna on Savarkar.
thers Party had fielded their Development Councils and tral governments to budge. ever BDC polls in conference in Mumbai, “We Savarkar Savarkar’s memory. BJP vice-president Vinay
candidates officially. There the District Planning and The focus of the government Jammu, Kashmir are not against Savarkar ji, Ironically, while the present There may be a difference Sahasrabuddhe suggests “A
were at least 853 Independ- Development Boards. The was on formulating secu- but we are not in favour of day Congress leadership is of opinion on the contri- Bharat Ratna would be an
ent candidates in the fray. elected BDC chairpersons rity plan to ensure that the and Ladakh the Hindutva ideology that trying to snub Singhvi for his bution of Veer Savarkar, apt recognition of Savarkar’s
There were a total of 316 will be part of the district contesting candidates are Savarkar ji patronised and praise of Savarkar, but facts but facts are that he was a contribution to India as a
BDCs, including 147 in Jammu development boards besides protected. stood for either.” reveal that way back in 1980, firebrand revolutionary who freedom fighter, social re-
region, 136 in Kashmir and MLAs and MPs. Also, the state and central wait for the formation of The controversy comes the then Prime Minister, formed the country’s first former, and political vision-
31 in Ladakh. Elections were governments refused to Union Territories of J&K and amid a political row over Indira Gandhi had lauded secret the society called the ary.” That Savarkar was an ac-
announced for 310 BDCs, of • Costly win Legal struggle costs engage the local parties who Ladakh on November 1 and BJP’s push of Bharat Ratna the contribution of Veer “Mitra Mela” which was later cused in Gandhi’s murder at
had demanded prior release extension of central laws to for Savarkar. Union home Savarkar. In a letter to Pandit called “Abhinav Bharat” to the behest Jawaharlal Nehru
of their leaders for them these Union Territories and minister Amit Shah during Bakhle, Secretary, Swatan- achieve freedom. English is a historic fact, but it is also
to take a stand on the polls. went ahead with the polls. campaigning in Maharashtra trayaveer Sarvarkar Rash- rulers were so scared of his true that he was let off due to
Elections were announced “Government, for now, had observed that history triya Smark, Indira Gandhi activities that they got him lack of evidence against him.
with major leaders under should concentrate on im- needs to be rewritten from had written, “Veer Savarkar’s classified as a “D” or danger- That the Nehru Government
detention, among them three proving the situation in the an Indian perspective. BJP daring defiance of the British ous criminal and extradited never appealed in the higher
former Chief Ministers — Dr Valley. And this can be done leaders have been advocating Government has its own him to India from London court against Savarkar’s
Farooq Abdullah, Omar Ab- by releasing the leaders and “Bharat Ratan” for Savarkar, important place in the annals and served him two life release is further evidence
dullah and Mehbooba Mufti. lifting the ban on internet,” who was charged with mur- of our freedom movement”. sentences amounting to 50 that the case against him
Congress, a national party, an editorial in a local daily der in the plot to assassinate Prime Minister, In- long years and packed off to was weak. Indeed there
also sought release of all po- said. “This will bring back the Mahatma Gandhi. Whether dira Gandhi’s letter No. 836- the Cellular Jail in Andamans. is merit in the BJP’s move
litical leaders before any polls normalcy and allow people or not he was part of the plot PMO/80 dated May 20, 1980, Throughout his life, Savarkar to confer Bharat Ratna on
could be held. State Congress to communicate and partici- to murder Gandhi has not had gone on to eulogize Veer also fought for the cause of Savarkar! However, like the
president Ghulam Ahmad pate in political activity. Elec- been established. Savarkar Savarkar as “the remark- Dalits. After taking to active Shakespearean “to be or not
Mir, who was himself under tions will follow naturally was also against Gandhi’s able son of India”. It may be politics in 1937, Savarkar be- to be that is the question”, the
detention, accused the cen- from a peaceful situation”. “obsession” with Hindu- recalled that Indira Gandhi came the voice of the Hindu dilemma remains!
tral government of destroy- Muslim unity. In the con- as prime minister had also community as the presi-
ing all public institutions. He letters@tehelka.com temporary political scenario, issued a postal stamp in dent of the All India Hindu letters@tehelka.com

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