Savarkar Filed Mercy Petitions Before British 5 Times, Treated Cow As Useful Animal Not God: Grandnephew Tells Court
A Special MP/MLA Court in Pune was recently informed that right-wing ideologue Vinayak Savarkar had filed five mercy petitions with the then British government and had also appealed recruitment in British government during the World War II.
This comes in the testimony of Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Savarkar, who has lodged a criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly defaming Savarkar by delivering a speech in London.
Satyaki has also admitted that Savarkar never referred a cow as a God but only as a useful animal.
"It is true to say that Savarkar had filed mercy petitions five times while he was in the Cellular Jail. That not only Savarkar but many political prisoners have sent similar petitions to the British Government. It is not true to say that, according to some historians, Savarkar is accused of having proposed the two-nation concept. That Savarkar made factual comments about the two-nation dispute, but the original concept was not his but was proposed by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. It is true to say that, reference is made to Savarkar's view that the cow is a useful animal, not a God," Satyaki said in his cross-examination.
In his cross-examination by Gandhi's counsel Milind Pawar, Satyaki admitted to the fact that Savarkar, who was acquitted from the murder case of Mahatma Gandhi, had also appealed to the then British Government for recruitment into the British Army. However, he explained the reason for Savarkar's appeal.
"It is not true to say that, Savarkar is accused of appealing for recruitment into the British army during World War II. That this is not an accusation, but an objection, such objections are raised without understanding Savarkar's role, The purpose was to provide young people with military training, firearms training, and experience in holding various positions in the army by joining the then Indian Army, so that after India became independent, it would have its own armed forces at its disposal to maintain its independence, it is a result of Savarkar's shortsightedness that India was able to win when Pakistan attacked India immediately after independence because of trained Indian soldiers," Satyaki explained.
The complainant Satyaki also refused to answer to questions as to why Savarkar is "glorified" more than other revolutionists like Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutt etc.
"Debates and differences of opinion are part of every great man. It is the job of the Government of India to bring national glory," he said.
Further, to a question that Savarkar is the ideological inspiration of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and political parties of the said ideology, Satyaki said he isn't aware of who the RSS and similar political parties consider their ideological inspiration.
As regards the question that only Savarkar's oil painting is displayed in the Parliament, Satyaki responded that it is the jurisdiction of the Government of India to decide the same.
"The objections to Savarkar's views on cows or military recruitment have been made without fully understanding his role. I would like those who object to this to first read all of Savarkar's views. I would also like to say once again that revolutionists should not be compared with each other. The Government of India takes the decision in national pride," Satyaki said.
As regards the demand of conferring "Bharat Ratna" on Savarkar by certain ideological people, Satyaki said he wasn't aware who these people are, who have been demanding such an award for Savarkar. He added that it is the Indian Government which takes decision on this and pointed out that Indira Gandhi, her son Rajiv Gandhi and her father Jawaharlal Nehru from the same family have been given Bharat Ratna.
Satyaki's cross-examination would continue further on June 1.
Previously - 'Swatantryaveer' Title Given To Savarkar Not By Govt But By A Writer : Savarkar's Grandnephew Tells Pune Court