Mumbai: The NCP, a key Congress ally, on Saturday called for the withdrawal of a controversial Seva Dal booklet which claims that Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse were in a physical relationship. NCP's chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said that since Savarkar was not alive, it was wrong to make such a claim.
The Hindi booklet, titled "Veer Savarkar, Kitne 'Veer'?", was distributed at a camp of Seva Dal, a frontal organisation of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh recently.
The booklet also questions Savarkar's credentials as a patriot and his reputation for valour. It also claimed that Savarkar received money from the British after he was released from Andaman's Cellular Jail.
"The booklet should be withdrawn. You may have ideological differences with the person concerned. But it is not right to make such personal remarks against one who is not around," Malik told media over the phone. The NCP and Congress are sharing power with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena had targeted the Congress over the booklet.