Veer Savarkar’s portrait unveiled in Karnataka Assembly; Oppn protests outside

Yet another controversy over Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar has broken out in Karnataka. The state BJP government on Monday installed the freedom fighter’s image in the state assembly at Belagavi on the opening day of the winter session, sparking angry protests by the Opposition outside the building.

Savarkar’s portrait was among those of seven freedom fighters installed in the Assembly hall of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Law Minister J Madhuswamy, Minister for Water Resources Govind Karjol, and others were present as Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri unveiled the portrait, though Congress leaders and legislators were not. According to reports, all the four doors of the Assembly were closed during the unveiling ceremony.

Argument over freedom fighters

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramaiah, led the protest, questioning the decision to include the portrait of a controversial figure in the Assembly. While Congress leaders held up pictures of Jawaharlal Nehru during their protest on the Assembly building steps, BJP MLC N Ravikumar said, “The freedom struggle was not carried out only by Congress leaders and Nehru.”

Also read: ‘Bulbul flight’: Textbook chapter on Savarkar makes Karnataka govt blush

“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 reportedly questioned.

According to reports, Congress state president DK Shivakumar claimed that the BJP had deliberately installed the portrait without consulting the Opposition because it knows that the Opposition would disrupt the assembly and protest. According to Shivakumar, that is exactly what it wants them to do because it knows that the Opposition would raise issues of corruption in the session.

The Belagavi link

Shivakumar went on to state that there was no connection between Veer Savarkar and Karnataka. To that, BJP MLA KS 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 (in Port Blair) and the cruel punishment given to freedom fighters in the Andamans,” news agency IANS quoted him as saying.

Also read: BJP targets Siddaramaiah as ‘Savarkar Chariot’ makes its way across districts

However, Savarkar did have a connection with Belagavi. He was lodged in the Hindalga central prison in Belagavi under preventive detention for four months in 1950. The preventive detention was to stop him from protesting the Delhi visit of former Pakistan Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan.

Tipu Sultan vs Savarkar

The Congress stated that if Savarkar’s portrait was installed in the Assembly, they would get a portrait of Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan installed in the Assembly as well. To that, Ravikumar reportedly said, “Tipu Sultan was a fanatic, a destroyer of temples. He tried to replace Kannada with Persian. He was against the principles of (Bengaluru founder) Kempe Gowda and (celebrated litterateur) Kuvempu. Let alone Vidhana Soudha, we will not allow his photo to come up anywhere.”

Also read: I-Day: Section 144 imposed in Shivamogga after row over Savarkar, Tipu banners

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal reminded Congress leaders that Indira Gandhi had released Veer Savarkar’s postal stamp.

There has been a series of controversies over Savarkar in Karnataka ahead of the 2023 assembly election, with the ruling BJP launching a state-wide campaign to “raise awareness” about Savarkar. It seems the 10-day winter session, which will likely be dominated by the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute, will be quite rocky.

(With agency inputs)