Veer Savarkar sang Sant Tukaram’s abhangs in jail: PM Modi

Dehu (Maharashtra): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar sang abhangs (devotional poetry in praise of Lord Vitthal) of Sant Tukaram while in jail during India’s freedom struggle.
While in jail, Veer Savarkar used his handcuffs like the chipli (a musical instrument) of Sant Tukaram and sang his abhangs, Modi said.
He was addressing a gathering of warkaris (devotees undertaking the pilgrimage to Lord Vitthal temple at Pandharpur), after inaugurating a shila (rock) temple at the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir dedicated to the 17th-century saint at Dehu near Pune.
Modi also interacted with the warkaris during his visit, which comes ahead of the annual ‘wari’ pilgrimage which will commence on June 20 from Dehu.
The Prime Minister was also presented with a special headgear, the Tukaram pagdi, on the occasion.
Lauding Sant Tukaram, a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement, Modi said he played an important role in the life of a Rashtra Nayak’ like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.