BJP’s Sadhvi Pragya Calls Gandhi’s Assasin A “Patriot”, Sparks Row
Bhopal: BJP’s Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya Thakur is at it again. This time she heaped praises on Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse by calling him a “patriot” and castigated those who termed him as a terrorist. The incorrigible offender that she has been had politicians of all hues and Twitterati slamming her for the remarks. The BJP which went into a tizzy, quickly rushed to douse the flames of controversy that she has sparked.
Her comments comes close on the heels of actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan’s remarks who had termed Godse as a Hindu and first terrorist of the independent India. She said: “Nathuram Godse was a deshbhakt, is a deshbhaktand will remain a deshbhakt. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a befitting reply in these elections.”
Distancing itself from her comments, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao in a statement said, “BJP does not agree with this statement, we condemn it. Party will ask her for clarification, she should apologise publicly for this statement.”
But her remarks have set off flood of reactions from politicians across the spectrum. MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi took to Twitter to take potshots at BJP. He said in fact BJP’s view of India was in line with that of Pragya Thakur, and took a jibe at BJP saying that soon “Sri Sri Godse will also be recommended with a Bharat Ratna”.
The Congress too hit out at the BJP that the party endorses a culture of violence and humiliation of martyrs. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also lashed out at BJP on Twitter.