After Rahul Gandhi said his name was not Rahul Savarkar but Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena on Saturday said the Hindutva icon, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, too, laid down his life for the country like Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Rahul Gandhi’s statement was “extremely unfortunate”.

Sanjay Raut on Twitter said there is “need to respect a legend” like Savarkar.

“Veer Savarkar, was not Maharashtra’s, but the country’s blessing. In the name Savarkar, there is pride for the country and self-respect. Like Nehru, Gandhi, Savarkar too laid down his life for the country. There is a need to respect every such legend. There is no give-take in the same. Jai Hind,” Sanjay Raut tweeted.

Sanjay Raut said, “Many Congress leaders fought for the freedom and stayed in jail. Be it Pandit Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Netaji Subhash Bose, we respect and believe in their contribution to India’s freedom. BJP won’t respect but we respect all.”

The Shiv Sena leader also said that Congress should respect the contribution of Veer Savarkar.

Sanjay Raut said, “You [Congress] should also respect the contribution of Veer Savarkar. You cannot disrespect and no one can disrespect him. Veer Savarkar is still an inspiration for us. This inspiration helps us to fight, helps us to struggle.”

Sanjay Raut ended saying, “Rahul Gandhi’s statement is extremely unfortunate. I will ask Congress leaders of Maharashtra that they should go to Delhi and gift books on Savarkar to their leader Rahul. They should explain to him how Veer Savarkar struggled and fought against Britishers.”

Addressing the Congress’s mega “Bharat Bachao Rally” in Delhi earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi rejected the BJP’s demand for an apology for his “rape in India” barb and added that his name was Rahul Gandhi, not “Rahul Savarkar” and he will never apologise for speaking the truth.

The Congress is part of the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra.

The BJP, however, hit back at Rahul Gandhi asking how the Shiv Sena — a new Congress ally in Maharashtra — might react to the Congress leader’s comments on Savarkar.