Rahul's Savarkar barb draws Sena's disapproval, BJP says 'Rahul Jinnah' more appropriate name for Cong leader

Under attack from the BJP over his 'rape in India' remark, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he will die but never apologise for speaking truth as he is a Gandhi and not a Savarkar, remarks that drew immediate disapproval from new-found ally Shiv Sena which said that the Hindutva icon should not be insulted.

The BJP too hit back at Rahul Gandhi, saying a "more appropriate" name for the Congress leader is "Rahul Jinnah" as his "Muslim appeasement" politics makes him a worthy legatee of the Pakistan's founder.

Their reaction came after Rahul Gandhi mocked V D Savarkar while addressing a Congress rally in Delhi.

"The BJP asked me to apologise. My name is not Rahul Savarkar, it is Rahul Gandhi, and I will never apologise for speaking the truth."
Targeting Gandhi, BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said, "The more appropriate name for you Rahul Gandhi is Rahul Jinnah. Your Muslim appeasement politics and mindset makes you a worthy legatee of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, not Savarkar."