Veer Savarkar has a connection with Belagavi, epicentre of a border row between Karnataka and Maharashtra
The Karnataka BJP government's move to put up Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar's image at the state assembly has triggered angry protests by the opposition on the opening day of the winter session of the assembly at Belagavi.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition, led the protest and questioned the need to feature a controversial figure inside the Karnataka assembly. The Congress leaders held up pictures of Jawaharlal Nehru during the protest held on the steps of the assembly building.
"They want us to disrupt the assembly and protest. They know we are going to raise issues of corruption in the session so they are trying to cause trouble by putting up the Savarkar portrait without consulting the opposition," said Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar.
This is the latest in a series of controversies over Veer Savarkar in Karnataka months before the 2023 state election. The ruling BJP has launched a state-wide campaign to "raise awareness" about Veer Savarkar and honouring his portrait in Belagavi was a part of it, said BJP leaders.
Veer Savarkar also has a connection with Belagavi, which is currently the epicentre of an escalating border dispute between Karnataka and neighbouring Maharashtra.
Savarkar was kept under preventive detention in the Hindalga central prison in Belagavi for four months in 1950. The arrest order was issued in Mumbai and Savarkar was arrested as he arrived in Belagavi.
The Hindu ideologue was kept under preventive detention in an attempt to stop him protesting against the Delhi visit of Liaqat Ali Khan, former Pakistan Prime Minister. He was released after his family filed a petition. He also submitted a document before the Bombay High Court promising to abstain from political activities.
This is the last winter session of the Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka government before the state election next year.
The 10-day session is likely to be dominated by the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute.
A Shiv Sena MP who wanted to join the protests in Belagavi was stopped from entering the district.
Dhairyasheel Mane, a Lok Sabha MP of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena faction, wanted to participate in a protest to be organised by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in Belagavi. With more than 61 organisations requesting permission for protests during the assembly session, the state has opted for maximum deployment of police on the ground. More than 4,000 police personnel are posted in Belagavi to ward against tension.