By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Dehradun: Amid a row over Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, a hero of the freedom struggle, Congress on Saturday launched a scathing attack on BJP MLA Dilip Rawat for his alleged remarks against the legendary soldier.
Rawat on other hand said his statement had been presented in a distorted and incomplete manner on social media, adding that he was willing to apologise “not once, but a thousand times” if it had hurt Garhwali’s dignity or sentiments.
The controversy erupted after a video of the Lansdowne MLA went viral in which he was heard saying that “an intelligent person cannot lead a revolution” and that Garhwali “was not intelligent.” State Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal severely criticized the remarks of Rawat and sought apology from him.
Addressing a press conference in Kotdwar, Dilip Rawat said his comments were taken out of context. He maintained that his intention was to highlight Garhwali’s courage, revolutionary spirit and immense contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
Explaining his remarks, Rawat said he was referring to an address delivered at a recent programme in Dehradun, where he cited the example of social worker and entrepreneur Vijay Sundriyal of Rikhanikhal, who established a fruit-processing unit despite adverse circumstances. He said he had remarked that excessive deliberation often prevents people from taking bold decisions.
“In the same context, I referred to army Subedar Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, who instantly refused to obey the British order to open fire on unarmed protesters in Peshawar on April 23, 1930. Had he overthought the situation, history might have been different,” Rawat said.
He asserted that he never intended to disrespect the freedom fighter. “If even a fraction of my statement has hurt Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali’s dignity or self-respect, I am ready to apologise not once, but a thousand times,” he said.
Rawat also hit back at the Congress, saying it had no moral right to demand an apology from him. Citing a published article by senior Kotdwar-based writer and Congress leader Kunwar Singh Karmath, he alleged that when former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari visited Kotdwar in 1979, Garhwali was prevented from meeting him.
According to Rawat, Garhwali then staged a protest by standing on a handcart and raising “ND Tiwari Go Back” slogans. He further claimed that a Congress worker kicked the handcart, causing Garhwali to fall. He claimed the freedom fighter never fully recovered from the injuries and held the Congress morally responsible for the incident.