Under severe criticism for airing a controversial debate on Veer Savarkar on his Birth Anniversary, the Marathi regional channel ABP Majha, owned and controlled by the ABP group has tendered its apology for hurting the public sentiments for the controversial title of their program- “Savarkar- A hero or a villain?” and the objectionable remarks made against Veer Savarkar in the program by the panellists.
https://twitter.com/abpmajhatv/status/1141683066219352064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
ABP Majha has issued a clarification saying, “On the Birth Anniversary of Swantratya Veer Savarkar, a debate by the title- “Savarkar-a hero or a villain” was aired on ABP Majha which is receiving severe flak for the content of the debate as well as the title. Majha had no intention of hurting the sentiments of the people or disrespect Veer Savarkar. In fact, Majha had telecasted 2 shows on how inspiring Veer Savarkar’s life had been on the very same day. If the debate and the title had hurt sentiments of the viewers, we regret it and tender our apology.”
A few weeks back on May 28. 2019, on the event of the Birth Anniversary of Veer Savarkar, ABP Majha had telecast a debate with the title-“Savarkar-a hero or a villain?” following which it faced harsh opprobrium for maligning Veer Savarkar and his contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
One of their clients, Cotton King, who had long been associated with providing advertisements on ABP Majha has withdrawn all its advertisements from the channel and initiated an economic boycott of the channel in the light of the show telecasted on the channel disreputing Veer Savarkar and casting smear on his illustrious legacy.
https://twitter.com/Marathi_Tweets/status/1139048469333794816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Veer Savarkar, who served the draconian punishment of incarceration in the infamous Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, for fighting against the British oppression, has often been disparaged and his contribution to the Freedom Struggle and in redeeming Hindutva philosophy routinely belittled by a hostile section of intellectuals and media personalities who couldn’t brook the recent Hindu resurgence that has taken country by storm.