Savarkar booklet by Congress fetches strong rebuke from BJP and Shiv Sena

New Delhi:The Congress move to attack Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar has come under attack by its new found ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and also its traditional rival, the BJP. 

Union minister Smriti Irani on Friday said Congress will have to "answer" the Marathi people for its conduct.Another BJP leader and former Union Minister Uma Bharti said Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should make it clear whether he will continue to stay in alliance with the Congress. 

"The Congress, which is one of the ruling parties in Maharashtra, will have to answer the Marathi people and all patriots in the country..... how long will Congress party continue to insult the sacrifice of Veer Savarkar," Ms Irani said here. 

Meanwhile, Ms Irani also launched BJP's 'Meri Dilli Mera Sujhav' campaign along with other leaders including party's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari to get feedback from the people of Delhi to draft the party's manifesto - Sankalp Patra - for ensuing Assembly polls.

In Mumbai, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut lashed out at Congress over a Seva Dal Hindi booklet ''Veer Savarkar, Kitne Veer" on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar."A section keeps talking against him. This shows the dirt in their mind," Mr Raut said"Veer Savarkar was a great man and will remain a great man", he said, however, not attacking the Congress by name.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray heads Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra.Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil also flayed the Congress and said "The Congress should tender an apology".

Another BJP leader and former Union Minister Uma Bharti wanted to know from "brother Uddhav" whether he will continue to stay in alliance with Congress or boot out Congress from his ministry.

"My brother Uddhavji should make it clear, what is more dear to him the power or Savarkar's prestige. For us in the BJP, the prestige of Savarkar is more dear," she said.(UNI)