In spite of Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction’s warnings, Congress leaders continue to make statements against freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Savarkar. Shivani Wadettiwar, daughter of Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, is the latest to attack Savarkar.

Shivani. in a public meeting held in Chandrapur on Friday, said that Savarkar cannot be eulogized and pointed out that he wanted rape to be used as a political weapon. “My sisters (party workers) are afraid. Savarkar said that rape can be used as a political weapon. This should be used against your rivals, how could we feel safe if people took out marches for those who propagated such a thought,”said Shivani.

Shivani, who is general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, was slamming the BJP for carrying out marches in support of Savarkar. While Shivani attacked the BJP, it was the Uddhav camp which felt the heat. Uddhav and other leaders from his faction have repeatedly warned that they would not tolerate any attack on Savarkar.The party even recently boycotted an opposition meet in Delhi called by the Congress to protest against Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark on Savarkar.

On Saturday, Uddhav group’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, who is normally very combative on the issue of Savarkar did not answer queries on Shivani. Other Uddhav faction leaders like Ambadas Danve too claimed that he would not be able to respond since he had not heard the comments.

The BJP, while attacking Shivani for her comments, has also questioned why the Uddhav camp is silent on the issue. State minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said on Saturday that while the BJP was not surprised that ‘Congress leaders who have no sense of history’ were making such statements. Mungantiwar wondered why Uddhav Thackeray stayed silent on the issue.