Rajnath Singh targeted the critics of Savarkar saying the freedom fighter was being defamed over the mercy petitions. He said, "Lies were spread about Savarkar."


"Time and again, it was said that he filed mercy petitions before the British government seeking his release from jail...The truth is, he didn't file mercy petitions to get himself released. It is a regular practice for a [jailed] person to file mercy petitions. It was Mahatma Gandhi who asked him to file mercy petitions," said Rajnath Singh.