Song penned by Savarkar sung at Maha Vikas Aghadi poll rally in Mumbai

MUMBAI: "Jayostute", a song penned by Hindutva icon VD Savarkar in praise of freedom and motherland, was on Wednesday sung at a rally of Maharashtra's opposition bloc MVA where they unveiled five guarantees for women, youth and farmers ahead of the November 20 polls.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) was attended by a host of opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, a trenchant critic of Savarkar, but the song was sung before they addressed the event.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, whose parties are MVA constituents, where among those who addressed the gathering.

The Savarkar-penned song was sung much before the MVA leaders, including Gandhi, started their speeches. Gandhi has often targeted Savarkar, a revered icon in Maharashtra who is hailed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The saffron outfit frequently criticises Thackeray, its former ally, for remaining "silent" on Congress attacks on the freedom fighter.