What Did Rahul Gandhi Achieve With His Statement On Savarkar?

New Delhi: For the last two days Rahul Gandhi’s comments on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar or popularly known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar, have stirred up politics in Maharashtra. During his Bharat Jodo yatra, Rahul Gandhi commented on the matter twice. Once when he pitted Savarkar against Tribal icon and Freedom fighter Birsa Munda. And then when he showed a document: mercy petition written by Savarkar to the British in a press conference.

Expectedly enough, His comments kicked up a storm and once again got everyone talking about the undying controversy around Savarkar. And then it was all, he said and she said, We’ve all heard, read what BJP said and then what Shivsena said, what did the grandson of Savarkar say and what did the great Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi say.

But what did Rahul Gandhi really achieve by his comments on Savarkar???

There are two ways to look at What Rahul Gandhi said and why he said it.

Number 1: Rahul Gandhi’s Commitment to his ideology

Ideology forms the basis of any political party’s identity. What values does a party stand for? Rahul Gandhi and Congress say they stand for secular, liberal ideology at the centre of which are teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. In the past too, Rahul Gandhi has attempted to make Congress vs BJP into Gandhi vs Savarkar debate. It’s a different matter, what was the result of it. However, irrespective of that, Rahul Gandhi has not shied away from displaying his ideological conviction most importantly without the fear of consequences. Is it a good thing or not, we will save that for the second point. But, as Rahul keeps on highlighting in his Bharat Jodo yatra, Daro mat: do not fear. He himself too has been making his point about Savarkar without the fear of subsequent political fallout.

Many Congress supporters believe that Rahul Gandhi’s statement was deliberate to attract media attention. Since, Rahul Gandhi stepped foot in Maharashtra, the headlines are dominated by issues like Abdul Sattar’s statement on Supriya Sule, Jitendra Awhad’s arrest etc. Thus, his Bharat Jodo yatra wasn’t getting as much media coverage as it should have. The comment on Savarkar although forced the media to take notice of Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Number 2: Rahul Gandhi’s comments create trouble for his allies

Politics doesn’t run on ideology alone. There are circumstantial realities that one has to consider. For example: Shivsena and Congress have differing ideologies. But they came together to form MVA and keep BJP out of power. The present day necessity of opposition to keep BJP away from power overrode their ideological differences.

But every time Rahul Gandhi speaks on Savarkar, Shivsena is forced to clarify its stand and, the fundamental differences between the alliance partners get prominently highlighted. For Shivsena has always identified itself with Hindutva and its ideologues including Savarkar. As Sanjay Raut said yesterday, Rahul Gandhi’s statements on Savarkar can create cracks in MVA.

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Moreover, it also creates troubles for Congress’ Maharashtra leaders as well. As large section people consider Savarkar freedom fighter. Our history textbooks have taught the same since childhood. There is still a question mark as to how many state congress leaders agree with Rahul’s POV on Savarkar and if they do, are they ready to speak it out like Rahul does time and again?

Congress media chief Jairam Ramesh in his media interactions has often underlined that Congress no more wants to play on BJP’s pitch and through Bharat Jodo Yatra, the party is carving its own path. But with the Savarkar debate, the party has landed on BJP pitch again.

Lastly, the question is: How is it helping the Congress? For days, through Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress has been talking about issues of inflation, unemployment, issues of small businessmen, issues of women and so on. All these relevant issues were put on backburner.

But again, the answer to the question what Rahul Gandhi achieved from Savarkar debate depends upon which side of the political spectrum you are standing and how you are perceiving his statements.

I, however, found that the most sensible take on the matter was of Aaditya Thackeray. He said, “If everyone keeps fighting about who was right or wrong 50-100 years ago, then who will fight for future and the present?”