Shah pays tributes to Savarkar

BJP president Amit Shah today paid tributes to Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar on his birth anniversary, saying he fought against untouchability in the society to allow Dalits entry into temples.

"Besides serving the country, Veer Savarkar fought a lot against untouchability in society to allow Dalits entry into temples. Only after searching hard among crores of patriots that one can find a patriot like Savarkar," he said in tweets.

Shah said he was also a strong votary of united India and believed in the mantra of one nation, one culture and nationalism.

"He strongly opposed the policy of appeasement and attempts to divide the country," the BJP chief said.

Born in 1883 in Maharashtra, Savarkar has been a reverential figure for the BJP but his ideology has been condemned by parties like the Congress which identifies themselves with the secular policy and accuse him of spreading communalism.