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MUMBAI: Journalist Dhiren Bhagat's book, The Contemporary Conservative, has come as a big help to Shiv Sena in its ongoing spat with petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar over the latter's remarks about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Aiyar had recently ordered the removal of a poem penned by Savarkar which was inscribed on the 'swatantrya jyot' at the Cellular Jail at Andamans where the fiery freedom-fighter spent 11 years.
Sena chief Bal Thackeray has liberally drawn from Bhagat's book which contains references to Aiyar's Cambridge days in 1960s.
"When Indians were donating money and jewellery - even sweaters - to sustain India's fight against the Chinese in 1962, Mani Shankar Aiyar, as secretary of the Cambridge unit of Communist party, was busy collecting funds for Chinese soldiers," Thackeray said, quoting Bhagat, on Saturday.
"Aiyar was then perceived as threat to national security and the police had a slew of files on him. However, the Aiyar family put to use its strong political connections and the then President of India intervened to clear the decks for Mani's entry into the IFS," Thackeray said.
"In any other country a person with such credentials would have been bundled off to jail. But in India, Mani Shankar Aiyar could dare to enter the IFS," he said.
According to a Sena MP, the Bhagat tome was supplied to MPs belonging to his party by Congressmen who are "upset" with Aiyar.
"Many Congress MPs want Aiyar out of office as he is seen as haughty and pompous. Satish Sharma is waiting to grab Aiyar's portfolio," said the Sena MP.
Sena turns the heat on Aiyar - Times Of India
Aiyar had recently ordered the removal of a poem penned by Savarkar which was inscribed on the 'swatantrya jyot' at the Cellular Jail at Andamans where the fiery freedom-fighter spent 11 years.
Sena chief Bal Thackeray has liberally drawn from Bhagat's book which contains references to Aiyar's Cambridge days in 1960s.
"When Indians were donating money and jewellery - even sweaters - to sustain India's fight against the Chinese in 1962, Mani Shankar Aiyar, as secretary of the Cambridge unit of Communist party, was busy collecting funds for Chinese soldiers," Thackeray said, quoting Bhagat, on Saturday.
"Aiyar was then perceived as threat to national security and the police had a slew of files on him. However, the Aiyar family put to use its strong political connections and the then President of India intervened to clear the decks for Mani's entry into the IFS," Thackeray said.
"In any other country a person with such credentials would have been bundled off to jail. But in India, Mani Shankar Aiyar could dare to enter the IFS," he said.
According to a Sena MP, the Bhagat tome was supplied to MPs belonging to his party by Congressmen who are "upset" with Aiyar.
"Many Congress MPs want Aiyar out of office as he is seen as haughty and pompous. Satish Sharma is waiting to grab Aiyar's portfolio," said the Sena MP.
Sena turns the heat on Aiyar - Times Of India
