Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao's remarks on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar have sparked controversy, particularly among BJP leaders. Rao stated that Savarkar, a Brahmin and Hindutva ideologue, was non-vegetarian and did not oppose cow slaughter, contrasting him with Mahatma Gandhi's vegetarian and democratic beliefs. These comments have prompted BJP leaders, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, to accuse Congress of perpetuating falsehoods about Savarkar, a narrative they claim was initiated by Rahul Gandhi. Fadnavis emphasized Savarkar's respect for cows, countering Rao's claims. The remarks have intensified the political discourse regarding Savarkar's legacy and ideological differences between him and Gandhi, with Rao's comments perceived as an attack on Hindu beliefs and figures.