New Delhi, August 15, 2025 – A social media post by India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas commemorating the country’s 79th Independence Day has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition leaders slamming the government for prominently featuring Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar (VD) Savarkar above revered freedom fighters Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Subhas Chandra Bose in a celebratory poster.
The poster, shared on the ministry’s official X account, displayed images of Savarkar, Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Bose alongside symbols of national pride, including the Red Fort, the Indian tricolor, and the Ashoka Chakra. The caption read, “As we celebrate our nation’s independence, let’s remember — liberty thrives when we nurture it every day, through unity, empathy, and action. Happy Independence Day.” However, the placement of Savarkar’s image above those of Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Bose, coupled with the absence of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and netizens alike.
Opposition Slams ‘Calculated’ Move
Opposition leaders accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of deliberately elevating Savarkar, a polarizing figure associated with the Hindu Mahasabha and the Hindutva ideology, over iconic freedom fighters. Savarkar, who was acquitted due to insufficient evidence in the 1948 Mahatma Gandhi assassination case, remains a controversial figure due to his alleged links to the crime and his history of submitting mercy petitions to British authorities during his imprisonment.
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal called the poster an “Orwellian image” that “elevates a British mercy petitioner like Savarkar over Gandhi-ji — the undisputed Mahatma who got us freedom — while completely eliminating Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.” He described the design as reflecting “contempt for our freedom fighters” and accused the BJP of attempting to “distort history to make heroes out of traitors.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas labeled the poster’s design a “calculated act” that undermines India’s secular constitution. He pointed to the Kapur Commission’s findings, which noted circumstantial evidence implicating Savarkar in Gandhi’s assassination, despite his acquittal. “Those who uphold the constitution should unequivocally condemn this mockery of justice and secular values,” Brittas wrote on X.
Congress leader Pawan Khera went further, accusing the BJP of “glorifying Gandhi’s killer.” He remarked, “While mixing ethanol in petrol, now you’ve started mixing impurities even in freedom fighters. The country is asking for cheaper oil, not cheap comedy.”
Social Media Backlash and BJP’s Response
The controversy quickly spread across social media, with netizens and opposition supporters expressing outrage. One X user wrote, “Putting Savarkar on an Independence Day poster alongside Bhagat Singh and Gandhi is like putting a pickpocket’s portrait next to soldiers on the war memorial.” Another user criticized the ministry for placing Savarkar “above Gandhi and even the national flag,” referencing his mercy petitions to the British.
The BJP, in response, dismissed the criticism as the work of “sick” protestors. Party supporters argued that Savarkar, a revolutionary in his early years, deserves recognition for his contributions to India’s freedom struggle, citing historians who rank him among key anti-colonial nationalists alongside Gandhi, Nehru, and Bose.
Historical Context Fuels Debate
The controversy taps into long-standing debates about Savarkar’s legacy. A prominent figure in the Indian independence movement during his early career, Savarkar was imprisoned by the British in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands. However, his multiple mercy petitions to secure release and his later association with the Hindu Mahasabha, which opposed Gandhi’s non-violent approach, have made him a divisive figure. Critics, including Congress MP Jothimani, emphasized that “true patriots faced bullets and prison for freedom, while Savarkar wrote mercy petitions to the British.”
The omission of Nehru and Patel, stalwarts of the independence movement, further intensified the row. Congress leaders argued that the exclusion reflects a deliberate attempt to rewrite India’s history in line with the BJP’s ideological agenda.
Ministry’s Silence and Political Implications
As of late Friday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, led by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State Suresh Gopi, had not issued an official response to the criticism, nor had it withdrawn the poster. The controversy has added fuel to ongoing debates about historical revisionism in India, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of promoting a narrative that prioritizes Hindutva figures over secular icons of the freedom struggle.
Analysts suggest the row could escalate tensions between the BJP and opposition parties, particularly as India approaches key state elections. The poster’s design has also raised questions about the government’s messaging on Independence Day, a time meant to symbolize national unity.
As the debate rages on, the incident underscores the deep divisions in how India’s freedom struggle and its heroes are remembered, with Savarkar’s legacy at the heart of a polarizing political discourse.
