New Delhi: Strongly defending government's move to install Veer Savarkar's portrait in Parliament, the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) on February 25 described him as "one of the greatest nationalists" and asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to refrain from "issuing certificates of patriotism".

Taking serious exception to Gandhi's letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker against the unveiling of the portrait at the Central Hall tomorrow, RSS joint spokesman Ram Madhav said, "a person who has enjoyed the privileges as daughter-in-law in the Prime Minister's house for 15 years without taking citizenship has no business to give certificates of patriotism to others.

"To denigrate leaders who ideologically differed from Nehru is not only insulting to freedom struggle but also humiliating to the entire Indian people."

The RSS also asked Congress to come clear on Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh's recent assertion that he believed in "Savarkar's brand of Hinduism".

"Not only was Singh's father an MLA representing Savarkar's Hindu Mahasabha, Singh himself headed the Bhopal Municipality as a Mahasabha nominee when Savarkar was alive," Madhav said.

He said the mercy petition by Savarkar to the British authorities was only a "ploy" to get out of the prison and carry forward his work.

On the charge that Savarkar was an accused in the Gandhi assassination case, he said, "Those who swear by court verdicts (on Ayodhya issue) should know and respect the court judgement acquitting Savarkar."

PTI