Mumbai: Re-branding his 13 year old Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday unveiled party’s new saffronized party flag at its convention at Goregaon. Besides unveiling the party’s new flag, in another political repositioning on Hindutva ideology was the bold and assertive statement on Veer Savarkar, by putting his photograph on the dais along with those of Prabodhankar Thackeray and the bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which is the signature statement of the MNS.
Raj Thackeray has given the clear indication of his hardcore Hindutva policies in future. Given the strong sentiments among masses about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar alias Veer Savarkar, MNS is bound to gain political mileage due to its changed stand. It was not long ago that one of the leading news channel was forced to apologise for insulting Veer Savarkar, in view of the outrage by Savarkar followers. Before forming an alliance with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena too was very stridently aggressive on Veer Savarkar.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray did not miss even a slightest opportunity to criticise those insulting Veer Savarkar, no matter who it was. But after taking the support of Congress which has been inimical towards Savarkar, Thackeray has had to completely tone down his aggression and even abandoned Veer Savarkar.
Raj Thackeray, very cleverly, has taken up the issue which will appeal to pro Savarkar masses, which include a considerably number of Shiv Sainiks. This move is bound to rattle the core of Shiv Sena and help Bharatiya Janata Party. Raj Thackeray has given clear indication on his course of action and in all probabilities will make big statement on Veer Savarkar. Now it will depend on BJP, how it uses the situation to its benefit.
