A day after former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray cautioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against criticising VD Savarkar, CM Eknath Shinde on Monday hit out at Wayanad MP saying that the latter should go and stay at the Andamans jail like Savarkar if he can.

"The citizens of Maharashtra are upset with what Rahul Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi should go and stay at the Andamans jail for one day if he can," Shinde said on Monday while talking to reporters.

He further announced to organise Savarkar Gaurav yatra throughout the state.

"We will organise Savarkar Gaurav yatra throughout the state to inform about the sacrifice of Savarkar," Shinde said.

The Maharashtra CM also said that insulting Savarkar means insulting the people of the country.

"Veer Savarkar's insult by Rahul Gandhi is condemnable. He (VD Savarkar) dedicated his life to the country and Rahul Gandhi is insulting him along with criticising our country's democracy abroad. Insulting Savarkar means insulting people of the country," he added.

Taking a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray for diluting the Sena's core principles by joining hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party, Shinde said, "Those who used to say earlier they won't tolerate the insult of Savarkar were wearing black bands in support of Rahul Gandhi. It's unfortunate. They (Uddhav Thackeray) said they won't tolerate Rahul Gandhi's remarks. Will they beat them with shoes the way Balasaheb Thackeray did?"

After his disqualification from Lok Sabha last week following a court verdict in a defamation case, Rahul said that Savarkar was an "apologist" of the British colonisers and that he would never express any regret for criticising the BJP-led government.