The question was raised by Shiv Sena MP from Nashik Hemant Tukaram Godse, who asked culture minister G Kishan Reddy whether it was true that museums related to 'Veer Savarkar' and other freedom fighters were 'either very few or do not exist'.

In a written reply, the minister underscored that there are such museums in the country that honour leaders of the freedom struggle and shared a list of 15 such museums across the country. However, none was named after Savarkar or seems to be specifically dedicated to his life.

The shared list mentions museums like the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army, Red Fort, Delhi, Gujarat Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and Vir Vithal Bhai Patel Memorial Museum and Library, Anand, Gujarat, Jharkhand Museum on Birsa Munda, Ranchi, Amar Shahid Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil Museum, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, Museum on Mahatma Gandhi at Aaga Khan Palace, Pune, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu Fort St. George Museum, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh 1857 Residency Museum, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and Pandit GB Pant Folk Art Museum, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

However, Reddy added that his ministry operates a Museum Grant Scheme which provides financial assistance to set up new museums and develop the existing ones through the central and state governments and Public Sector Undertakings, societies, autonomous bodies, local bodies and trusts registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 at the regional, state and district levels. 

The role of VD Savarkar in the freedom struggle has been a topic of debate between the BJP and the Congress. While the Congress has been describing Savarkar as an 'agent of British India', PM Modi hailed him as a 'great son of Mother India'.

(With inputs from agencies)