Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad has accused the BJP of insulting the Hindu religion by keeping the photograph of a self-confessed atheist such as V.D. Savarkar in Ganesha pandals. Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, he said Savarkar had described himself as an “atheist” in his autobiography. Displaying the images of such a “non-believer” in Ganesha pandals amounted to insulting the Hindu religion, he said while accusing the BJP of using Savarkar’s photographs without understanding the impact of his atheist beliefs on the festival just for the sake of politics.
He further questioned Savarkar’s role in the Independence movement and claimed that the Hindutva ideologue had actually written mercy petitions to the then British government.
