India, Oct. 21 -- Amit Shah is a street-smart politician who made it big in Indian politics thanks to his closeness to Narendra Modi. He is notorious for his crude use of religion and muscle power to win elections. Nobody associates ethics and etiquette with his brand of politics. Anything and everything that fetches votes is acceptable to him.
Shah has never been known for any original thinking. Recently, he made a statement to eulogise V.D. Savarkar and prepare the ground to confer the title of Bharat Ratna on him. Shah said that the 1857 revolt would have remained the Sepoy Mutiny had "Veer" Savarkar not described it as the First War of Independence. There is an element of truth in what Shah said, as Savarkar was the first to give that...