Uddhav Thackeray demands 'Bharat Ratna' for Veer Savarkar

Shiv Sena chief Uddhay Thackeray has demanded that the country's highest civilian award 'Bharat Ratna' be bestowed upon freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar .

Asserting that some of the opposition leaders in Maharashtra are unanimous on the decision, Thackeray demanded the highest honour for Savarkar.

"We all are together in demanding (Bharat Ratna for Savarkar) and some leaders of opposition (in Maharashtra) also want the highest honour for Savarkar. We should now act to make this a reality," the Shiv Sena Chief said here on Sunday.

While speaking at the closing function of a three-day long convention on Savarkar's writings, he also demanded that a replica of prison cell at the Cellular jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where Savarkar had been kept by the British should be built in Mumbai.

Thackeray further said that everyone should be aware about the contribution of Savarkar towards the 'Hindu Rashtra' and the freedom struggle.

The Shiv Sena has made repeated demands over the years including letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling on the Centre to honor the Maharashtrian freedom fighter.

Besides his gallant contributions to the nations struggle, Savarkar was known for advocating the dismantling of the system of caste in Hindu culture.