A political row erupted on Friday over the central government’s decision to name a new Delhi University (DU) college in Najafgarh after Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to lay its foundation stone.
The Congress criticised the move, accusing the BJP of glorifying those who submitted mercy petitions to the British during India’s freedom struggle, while the BJP defended Savarkar as a freedom fighter deserving of the honour.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Naseer Hussain accused the BJP of sidelining true freedom fighters in favor of those who cooperated with colonial authorities. “The BJP is legitimising people who wrote mercy petitions to the British and accepted pensions, ignoring those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom,” he said.
The BJP countered these allegations, with Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva highlighting Savarkar’s contributions to India’s independence.
“Veer Savarkar was a freedom fighter who fought for independence and endured imprisonment. He even initiated the movement to burn foreign clothes under Tilak’s leadership. The Congress never respects freedom fighters, and we welcome DU’s decision to honour Savarkar,” Sachdeva stated.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Congress of making disrespecting great figures a habit, pointing out that even Indira Gandhi and Uddhav Thackeray had praised Savarkar.
“Rahul Gandhi’s MP Naseer Hussain insulted Veer Savarkar again. Does this mean Indira Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray were also wrong to admire him?” Poonawalla asked.
Meanwhile, the Congress’s student wing, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), urged PM Modi to name the college after former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26.
NSUI President Varun Choudhary lauded Singh’s contributions to education, stating, “His visionary leadership established many universities and transformed education in India. A central university should be dedicated to his legacy.”
Delhi University has not yet responded to the controversy.
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