Nearly 100 Shiv Sainiks on Friday manhandled former naval chief Vishnu Bhagwat for his allegedly derogatory remarks against V D 'Veer' Savarkar in Mumbai.

Irate Shiv Sainiks gheraoed Bhagwat and manhandled him as he proceeded to deliver the Dr Adhikari Memorial lecture at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, his wife Niloufer Bhagwat told PTI.

Bhagwat had reportedly made the derogatory remarks while speaking at a function in Hingoli in Marathwada. He is believed to have questioned installation of 'terrorist' Savarkar's portrait in the Central Hall of Parliament.

Congress leader Hussain Dalwai was also present on the occasion, a function held to mark Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's 45th death anniversary.

Niloufer said Bhagwat is 'fine' and had spoken to her after the incident. She denied the manhandling incident had anything to do with Savarkar and said it may have something to do with the views expressed by Bhagwat in his weekly column on economic issues.

Shiv Sainiks also burnt an effigy of Bhagwat and pelted stones at Communist party workers, who opposed them.

Police brought the situation under control after a mild lathi charge.