In recent days, there has been tension between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress party over comments made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. However, on Wednesday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut met with Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in Delhi to discuss the issue, and according to Raut, “everything is fine” and there is no need to worry.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) had previously warned Rahul against “insulting” Savarkar after he made a comment saying, “My surname is Gandhi, not Savarkar.” Raut’s meeting with the Gandhis took place at the Congress office in Parliament, marking Rahul’s first visit there since being disqualified as an MP following a defamation case.
During the 45-minute discussion, Raut and the Gandhis reportedly discussed a range of issues related to the country and Maharashtra in particular. Raut later stated that he did not know Sonia Gandhi would also be present at the meeting, but it was a good discussion nonetheless.
Earlier in the day, Raut had announced that differences over the Savarkar issue had been resolved, stating that the Shiv Sena (UBT) had raised concerns about Savarkar two days prior and that they did not attend the meeting at Mallikarjun Kharge’s house. He also expressed confidence in Opposition unity in Maharashtra and the rest of the country.
The tension over Savarkar had escalated to the point where Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had warned Rahul against insulting the Hindutva ideologue during a rally in Malegaon. However, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar urged Congress leaders to tone down their attacks on Savarkar.