Karnataka Congress Sparks Controversy: The Savarkar Portrait Debate

Paromita Das

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Dec. At a time when the Congress party in Karnataka finds itself grappling with mounting governance challenges and allegations of corruption, it appears to have fallen back on divisive and deflective tactics to appease its voter base. The recent decision to remove the portrait of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, better known as Veer Savarkar, from the Assembly Hall of Belagavi’s Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, has reignited a heated debate over history, ideology, and political priorities.

Installed in 2022 under the BJP-led Basavaraj Bommai government, Savarkar’s portrait stood alongside those of iconic freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. However, the Congress government has chosen to target Savarkar, citing a controversial and intellectually dishonest portrayal of his role in Bharat’s freedom struggle. The State Minister Priyank Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, went so far as to label Savarkar a symbol of inequality, questioning his contributions and challenging his celebrated title of “Veer.” Predictably, this decision has not only drawn sharp criticism from the BJP but has also divided public opinion across Karnataka.

To justify its move, the Congress has leaned on the oft-repeated claim that Savarkar’s ideology allegedly contributed to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. This argument, however, has long been discredited as political propaganda designed to tarnish Savarkar’s legacy. Such narratives ignore the undeniable sacrifices Savarkar made for Bharat’s independence, including 11 years of grueling incarceration at the Cellular Jail in the Andamans and a total of 27 years spent in prison for his patriotic activities. These are sacrifices that cannot be diminished by selective historical revisionism.

What adds further irony to the Congress’s decision is Savarkar’s historical connection to Karnataka. In 1950, he was detained in Hindalga Jail in Belagavi for protesting against the visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan to New Delhi—a testament to his lifelong commitment to the nation. Yet, the Congress government’s move to erase his presence from the Assembly Hall reveals a deliberate intent to sideline his legacy while pandering to their ideological base.

The BJP has seized this opportunity to frame the Congress as anti-Hindu and politically opportunistic, accusing it of selectively undermining Hindutva figures like Savarkar while glorifying controversial historical personalities such as Tipu Sultan. BJP leaders have argued that this decision is yet another example of Congress’s appeasement politics aimed at courting its Muslim voter base, often at the expense of broader societal unity. The saffron party has also pointed out Congress’s apparent double standards, contrasting its reverence for Tipu Sultan—a ruler with a documented history of forced conversions and Hindu persecution—with its refusal to honor Savarkar’s contributions.

Adding to the controversy, Ranjit Savarkar, the great-grandson of Veer Savarkar, criticized the Congress for its selective recognition of Bharat’s freedom fighters. He accused the party of distorting history to glorify the Nehru-Gandhi family while ignoring the sacrifices of other stalwarts like Savarkar. According to him, the Congress’s actions reflect an ideological bias that prioritizes political convenience over historical accuracy.

The controversy surrounding Veer Savarkar is not new in Karnataka’s political landscape. In recent years, the state has witnessed several flashpoints over his legacy. Clashes erupted in Shivamogga in 2022 over a Savarkar poster at Ameer Ahmed Circle, which Islamists opposed by demanding a Tipu Sultan poster in the same location. Similarly, the naming of a flyover in Yelahanka after Savarkar in 2020 and controversies surrounding textbook depictions of him have consistently placed him at the center of Karnataka’s ideological battles.

The Congress’s decision to remove Savarkar’s portrait not only disrespects a national icon but also undermines the spirit of inclusivity that should guide the acknowledgment of Bharat’s diverse freedom struggle. By prioritizing polarizing politics over governance, the Congress risks alienating a significant section of the electorate. The BJP’s pointed criticism underscores how such moves could backfire politically, strengthening the narrative that Congress lacks a cohesive vision for governance and is instead relying on divisive tactics to mask its failings.

The broader question this controversy raises is whether political parties in Bharat are capable of respecting the multiplicity of perspectives that shaped the nation’s freedom struggle. Veer Savarkar’s life is a testament to courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. Despite ideological differences, his contributions to Bharat’s independence are beyond dispute. The Congress’s attempt to question his legacy not only insults his memory but also sets a dangerous precedent for how history is weaponized for political gain.

As Karnataka grapples with pressing issues of governance and development, the Congress’s preoccupation with ideological posturing does little to inspire confidence in its leadership. In an era where voters are increasingly demanding accountability and progress, such deflective tactics risk undermining the party’s credibility further. The legacy of Veer Savarkar deserves respect, not political vilification. If the Congress wishes to regain its stature, it must rise above divisive politics and focus on the real issues that matter to the people of Karnataka.