Raj Thackeray slams Rahul Gandhi: ‘Does he have stature to talk about Savarkar?’

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday addressed his party workers and launched a vitriolic attack on both Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for maligning national icons. Mocking Rahul Gandhi on the stage, Raj Thackeray asked whether Rahul Gandhi has the stature to comment on Savarkar. "There is something called strategy to come out of prison. How can it be termed as surrender or mercy?" he said as he also criticised Koshyari's statement on Shivaji that he is an icon of ‘olden times’. Read | 'A sign of humanity...': Amid Savarkar row, Raut-Gandhi's olive branches

"Rahul Gandhi will talk about Savarkar, BJP will talk about Nehru, then someone else will talk about some great man. How long will this last?" Raj Thackeray said.

Every national hero has positive and negative sides but there is no need to highlight the negative sides as there is no benefit of it, Raj Thackeray said. "The BJP has been maligning Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and this should stop. There are important issues facing the country which should be addressed to. You will not benefit by criticising national heroes who had fought for Independence. Everyone has positive and negative aspects. There is no need to highlight the negative side now," Raj Thackeray said calling Governor Koshyari 'anti-Marathi.

Rahul Gandhi stoked a row with his comments on Savarkar as he said Savarkar apologised to the British and helped them. Amid the Savarkar row, Governor Koshyari's comment on Shivaji led to another controversy.

Referring to Koshyari's earlier controversial statement that if Gujaratis and Marwaris leave Mumbai it will cease to be the financial capital, Thackeray said, “If this is the case, then why can't the people from these communities return to their home states? But they won't go because Mumbai provides them infrastructure and conducive atmosphere for business.”