By TNM Staff
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas triggered a controversy on August 15, with its Independence Day celebration social media post featuring Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar prominently while conspicuously leaving out India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. And though the post featured Mahatma Gandhi, his image size was smaller compared to Savarkar’s.
VD Savarkar was an accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and was acquitted because of the lack of evidence.
Sharing the Independence Day post on X, the Ministry captioned it: “As we celebrate our nation’s independence, let’s remember — liberty thrives when we nurture it every day, through unity, empathy, and action.”
Along with Savarkar and Gandhi, the post also contained images of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh and Subash Chandra Bose. The post which highlighted Savarkar was criticised by many, including Congress and CPI(M) leaders.
In his book Essentials of Hindutva (1925), Savarkar wrote that Muslims and Christians are alien to this land, framing them as descendants of foreign invaders.
“The deliberate elevation of VD Savarkar over Mahatma Gandhi is not a coincidence but a calculated act,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas.
This story was originally published in thenewsminute.com. Read the full story here.
