BJP candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Thakur is again in the limelight over the similar reasons. She has now termed Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse as a patriot.
Notably, few days ago, actor- turned- politician Kamal Haasan called Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse first terrorist of free India.
The Sadhi who was campaigning in favour of party candidate in Agar Malwa on Thursday while replying to a query of media persons on Kamal Haasan’s remarks said, “Nathuram Godse ek deshbhakt the, hain aur rahenge. (Nathuram Godese was a patriot, is one and would be a patriot always),” said the sadhvi.
Those calling him a terrorist should see inside their own self and a befitting reply would be given to such people in the elections, affirmed the BJP candidate.
Early this month, Thakur was banned by the Election Commission of India from campaigning for three days for her ‘Was proud of Babri demolition’ remark.
Hitesh Bajpai, the senior BJP leader and publicity in charge of Thakur’s campaign in Bhopal asked to comment on BJP candidate’s take on Nathuram Godse distanced the BJP and RSS from his saying he neither was a member of the BJP nor the RSS.
Not offering a reply on the Sadhvi’s comments, Bajpai claimed Mahatma Gandhi was a very well celebrated Mahatma of the country so we (BJP) won’t entertain any disrespect to his image. The BJP spokesperson however sought to deny the Hindu terrorism narrative saying the terrorism has no caste, creed or colour.
He however did not offer a lucid response to queries on whether the BJP would prevent the Sadhvi from campaigning or make her apologise for her remarks.
However, efforts to glorify Godse had been made in the past as well when Hindu Mahasabha had installed the bust of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin at its Gwalior based office but later the police had seized the bust and also lodged a case against the local office-bearers of the right-wing outfit.
Narendra Saluja, the Congress media cell in charge reacting to the Sadhvi’s remarks claimed, “She had also made a mockery of late Hemant Karkare’s martyrdom and now she has spoken in this manner about Mahatma Gandhi’s killer which exhibits BJP ideology and also exposes what kind of candidate the party has fielded in lok sabha polls.”
The public would offer a fitting reply to these persons on May 23, affirmed Saluja.
Early this month, after being nominated for Bhopal lok sabha, Thakur had claimed that Karkare had died due to her curse.