Among staunch opposition from the political opposition, the ruling BJP in Karnataka on December 19, unveiled the portrait of Hindutva ideologue, Veer Savarkar in the Assembly hall of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here, even as the opposition Congress staged a protest against the move. Savarkar author of several books including The Indian War of Independence, Hindutva and Hindu Rashtra Darshan.
Ironically, Savarkar’s portrait is now among pictures of seven freedom fighters that are installed in the Assembly hall. The ceremony was carried out in the absence of the Congress leaders and legislators. Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, speaker of the assembly, Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, state law Minister, J. Madhuswamy and state minister for water resources, Govind Karjol and others were present on the occasion.
Apprehending protests to the mar the unveiling, sources told the media that all the four doors of the Assembly were closed during the unveiling ceremony to avoid any eventualities.
Meanwhile, Congress MLAs staged strong protests with leader of the opposition, Siddaramaiah speaking up vocally against the installation of the portrait. They have also written to the Speaker of the assembly to install portraits of personalities like Valmiki, Basavanna, Kanaka Dasa, BR Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and many others.
Meanwhile, BJP MLC N. Ravikumar objected to the Congress opposition saying, “The freedom struggle was not only carried out by the Congress leaders and Nehru. “Veer Savarkar inspired a whole generation of revolutionaries in the country. If not in the Legislative Assembly, Parliament and public places, where else would his picture be installed? Ravikumar questioned.
On the rebuttal from the Congress saying that, if Vikram Savarkar’s portrait is installed, they will get the photo of Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan installed in the Assembly, Ravikumar said, “Tipu Sultan was a fanatic, destroyer of temples. He attempted to replace Kannada by Persian language, he is against the principles of Kempe Gowda (Bengaluru founder) and Kuvempu (celebrated litterateur). “Let alone Vidhana Soudha, we will not allow his photo to come up anywhere,” he asserted.
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, BJP MLA, said that Congress leaders have forgotten that Indira Gandhi released the postal stamp of Veer Savarkar and the party is protesting now. “We will not allow Tipu Sultan’s photo to come up. He was a fanatic,” he said.
Responding to Congress state president D.K. Shivakumar’s statement that there is no connection between Veer Savarkar and Karnataka, BJP MLA K.S. Eshwarappa questioned the connection between Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Karnataka. “Shivakumar only knows about Tihar Jail and Bengaluru Central jail. He needs to study about cellular jail and cruel punishment given to freedom fighters in Andamans,” Eshwarappa stated.
The issue of installation of Savarkar’s portrait is now likely to result in a rocky winter session.
Related:
Portrait as Mirror, unveiling of Vinayak Savarkar’s portrait in Parliament, then and now
A historicity of Savarkar’s rehabilitation project