Nagpur, March 7 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a staunch patriot with a scientific ideological perspective, whose explanation of Hindutva remains relevant and useful today, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.
In what appeared to be a reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Union Minister said he once had a conversation with a "prominent political leader" who was critical of Savarkar. Gadkari said he told this leader that if Savarkar was not great, then no one in the country was great.
Addressing a programme organized by the Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Smarak Samiti, where former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande (retired) was felicitated, Gadkari said Savarkar is an inspiration for everyone.
"Not only was he a staunch patriot, but he was also an excellent poet, philosopher, and historian. However, most importantly, he was an ideal social reformer. Savarkar's ideological perspective was scientific. His explanation of Hindutva remains very useful and relevant today," the senior BJP leader said.
Savarkar's clear opinion was that the caste system and its divisions, as well as untouchability, present in Hindu society should be completely eradicated.
"No person is superior because of their caste; a person becomes superior because of their qualities. This was the belief Savarkar held. Savarkar's entire life is an example of sacrifice, penance, and dedication. No family has sacrificed as much for the country as the Savarkar family," he asserted.
Gadkari added that Savarkar was a staunch patriot, and his writings and the movie based on him should reach more and more people.
"There is one prominent political leader who is critical of Savarkar. Once, I told him to read about Savarkar properly. During the conversation, I told him that if Savarkar is not great, then no one is great in this country," he said.
"I told this leader that you can criticize the ideology, and there can be differences of opinion on ideology. But, no one has sacrificed more for the country than Savarkar and his family," Gadkari added.
Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly claimed that Savarkar apologized to the British to get out of jail. Incidentally, the Congress leader is facing a defamation case in a Pune court over his remarks about the revolutionary. The case has been filed by the ideologue's grandnephew.