Gandhinagar: Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhavat on May 28 unveiled the portrait of freedom fighter Veer Savarkar on the latter's 120th birth anniversary, in the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha building.

Urging everyone to learn from Savarkar's life and his role during India's freedom struggle, Shekhawat said "Savarkar was not part of any party and did not have any army, but he invoked patriotism among the people by his words and action".

"Great leaders like Savarkar should not be brought into any controversy and his dedication to the nation should always be remembered", the Vice President, who offered floral tributes and also lit a lamp in front of the portrait, said at the podium of the state Assembly.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who praised Savarkar's contribution in identifying India as a `Hindu Rashtra', said, "His portrait was long time pending in state's Vidhan Sabah and now it has been installed today".

"Savarkar was the first person to seek renaming Ahmedabad city as Karnavati. People always name only one or two families that contributed to the nation freedom struggle but have forgotten the role of Savarkar's family", Modi said.

Three brothers of Savarkar also spent many years of their life in jail for the freedom struggle, Modi recalled.

PTI