Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam criticizes Karnataka Minister Gundu Rao for his remarks on Savarkar regarding beef.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday criticized Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao's comments on Veer Savarkar's ideology and the claim that he "consumed beef" despite being a Chitpavan Brahmin, calling it an "insult to Veer Savarkar."

"Once again, the Congress party has made a disgraceful remark against Swatantra Veer Savarkar. The statement made by the Karnataka Health Minister on Savarkar is entirely condemnable; it is an insult to him," Nirupam said in a self-recorded video.

The Shiv Sena leader warned the Congress that repeatedly insulting Veer Savarkar could lead to severe consequences in Maharashtra.

"Savarkar ji played a crucial role in India's freedom struggle. I want to tell and warn the Congress that the people of Maharashtra hold Savarkar ji in high regard, and if the insults continue, the Congress party will face severe backlash in Maharashtra. They should stop insulting Savarkar," he added.

Earlier, Ranjit Savarkar, Veer Savarkar's grandson, stated that Congress was deliberately trying to defame Savarkar, especially as elections approached. He argued that the party was attempting to divide Hindu society along caste lines to win elections, following the British "divide and rule" strategy.

Ranjit Savarkar also dismissed the claims of Veer Savarkar "consuming beef" as false and announced his intent to file a defamation suit against Gundu Rao for his remarks.

"This is Congress’s strategy to defame Savarkar repeatedly, particularly with elections nearing. Previously, Rahul Gandhi did it, and now his party members are making such statements... Congress has revealed its true intentions. They aim to divide Hindu society along caste lines to win elections, which mirrors the British divide-and-rule policy," he said.

"The claim that Savarkar consumed beef and supported cow slaughter is false. His original Marathi article highlighted that cows were revered because of their utility. He even presided over a Gau Raksha Samelan... I plan to file a defamation case against Gundu Rao," he added.

Ranjit further claimed that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi adhered to the policies of Veer Savarkar and not those of Nehru or Gandhi.

On Wednesday, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had remarked that despite being a nationalist, Savarkar’s fundamentalist ideology differed from Indian culture. He argued that it was Gandhi’s ideology, not Savarkar’s, that should guide the country.

Speaking at the launch of the Kannada version of the book *Gandhi's Assassin: The Making of Nathuram Godse and His Idea of India* by journalist Dhirendra K. Jha, Rao said, "It's not right to claim Savarkar’s ideology should win. He was a non-vegetarian, did not oppose cow slaughter, and was a Chitpavan Brahmin. In some ways, he was modern, but his fundamental thinking was different. Some say he ate beef and even encouraged it, which sets him apart. Gandhi, on the other hand, was deeply rooted in Hinduism, though democratic in his actions."