Mumbai: Slamming the Maharashtra BJP's proposal to seek Bharat Ratna for Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, said on Friday that Savarkar was the "patron" of the Mahatma's assassination.
Savarkar, who faced trial in the Gandhi assassination case but was later acquitted, had not been pronounced innocent by the court, claimed Tushar Gandhi.
"I think it is important that we understand the real objective and conspiracy behind Bapu's murder at a time when the patron of his murder is being considered for Bharat Ratna," he said.
While acquitting Savarkar in the case, the court had stated that "enough evidence was not presented before it to prove Savarkar's guilt beyond doubt", he said.
"We must remember this while the 'Sanghis' (those affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) contemplate giving him the highest civilian award," Tushar Gandhi added. "Savarkar may have been acquitted in the case, but the court did not pronounce him innocent."
In its manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the state BJP had promised to demand Bharat Ratna for Savarkar.
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