BELAGAVI, KARNATAKA — Amid opposition, the ruling BJP in Karnataka on Monday unveiled the portrait of V D Savarkar in the Assembly hall of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here, even as the opposition Congress staged a protest against the move.
The ceremony was carried out in the absence of the Congress leaders and legislators and keeping all the four doors of the Assembly closed to avoid any eventuality.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, Law Minister J. Madhuswamy and Minister for Water Resources Govind Karjol and others were present on the occasion.
BJP MLC N. Ravikumar objected to the Congress opposition saying, “The freedom struggle was not only carried out by the Congress leaders and Nehru.
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 Congress statement that if 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 Savarkar and are protesting now. “We will not allow Tipu Sultan’s photo to come up. He was a fanatic,” he said.
The issue of installation of Savarkar’s portrait is likely to result in a rocky winter session. Savarkar’s portrait was among pictures of seven freedom fighters that were installed in the Assembly hall. — IANS
