Mumbai, (The Hindu): In an oblique criticism of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of ahimsa or non-violence, BJP president Amit Shah said on Friday that ahimsa had “crossed a limit”, which was highlighted by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in his play Sanyast Khadga.

“Everything that crosses the limit becomes dangerous. Savarkar had understood that very well. When ahimsa crossed that limit, Savarkar wrote a play named Sanyast Khadga, which rejects the unnecessary importance of ahimsa,” he said, without naming Gandhi.

Mr. Shah was in Thane to inaugurate the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Literary Meet, attacked the Congress for questioning Savarkar’s contribution to the freedom struggle, “Those who oppose Veer Savarkar should study him first. Do they have even a bit of patriotism in them compared to him?” he said.

“Veer Savarkar was the first philosopher freedom fighter who showed us the relation between patriotism and cultural nationalism. He tried to emboss the importance of cultural nationalism. In every way, Savarkar was someone who could think and predict things. All those who keep attacking Savarkar must read him first,” Mr. Shah said. “Savarkar was a social reformer and ahead of his time. We need to take his thoughts all over India so the next generation can learn Indian values through them.”

Mr. Shah also said that had the country listened to Savarkar on issues concerning China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and northeast, many of those problems could have been resolved.

The three-day literary meet will discuss various aspects of Savarkar’s life. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to attend the concluding session.