New Delhi: Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut has praised the government’s effort to bring back Veer Savarkar’s barrister degree which the British Empire confiscated but called for greater recognition for the freedom fighter.
Raut said during a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday, “The government is trying to bring back Veer Savarkar’s degree which was confiscated by the British, and we welcome that. It is our heritage. Just like the government took over Babasaheb Ambedkar’s residence in London. A memorial was built there. We welcome that.”
Also, Raut asked, “They brought tiger claws. They brought swords. There is a dispute over that. Where are the tiger claws? They were displayed before the elections. What happened to the tiger claws now?” He added, “The sword of the Bhonsles of Nagpur is going to be brought. That’s fine. But the British confiscated Veer Savarkar’s barrister degree. CM Fadnavis took a stand on that and there is no objection to it. But bring back the real degree.”
Raut called for greater recognition of the freedom fighter. He said, “Even if the British confiscated a piece of paper, we still consider Savarkar a barrister. But the demand of this country is to give Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar. The Padma Awards ceremony was held yesterday. We thought that at least this time Savarkar would be given the Bharat Ratna. How long do we have to wait? You will bring degrees. You will bring caps. But where is the real honour of Savarkar? It is in his ideology. Therefore, we should give him the Bharat Ratna and shut the mouths of the critics.”
‘We don’t need Modi, Shah and Fadnavis for that’
Raut further asked, “Why hasn’t the Maharashtra government made that recommendation yet? Why didn’t Modi and Shah award Savarkar the Bharat Ratna when it was in their power and hands?”. He also said, “Bring a barrister’s degree, you will bow your head in the sea where Savarkar jumped. We have been doing this for years. We don’t need Modi, Shah and Fadnavis for that. When Fadnavis was not born, Maharashtra gave him this title. Maharashtra had honored Savarkar.”
