The installation of Nathuram Godse's idol in the premises of the local Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Sabha office on Wednesday created a political flutter.
The Mahasabha had requested for land from the district administration for a temple dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin in the city, but its plea was not accepted.
Notably, Godse was hanged to death for killing Mahatma Gandhi on November 15, 1949.
After the inauguration of the temple, Jaiveer Bharadwaj, vice-president of ABHM, told media persons that the Hindu Mahasabha office was the karmashthali of Godse. "He had stayed here for a week prior to Gandhi's assassination," Bharadwaj added. It is said that Godse also acquired the gun in Gwalior, he added.
Bharadwaj claimed that perspective on Gandhiji has been changing with the time and so the Congress should not have problem with the establishment of an idol or a temple, which he said would be developed in ABHM's Daulatganj office later.
Over this, when asked, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh pleaded ignorance. His Cabinet colleague, Health Minister Rustam Singh was also unaware of the incident.
leader of Opposition Ajay Singh, however, slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party saying that the BJP has over 25-26 affiliate wings which remain
engaged in bizarre acts and later the BJP disowns their deeds. He gave a call for a case of treason against Mahasabha leaders.
Rajesh Tiwari, regional secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal office-bearer, distanced himself from the act, saying that Hindu Mahasabha functions on its own and they had no part to play in the installation of the statue or the temple plan.