The BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur on Monday, 20 May, announced a vow of silence or "maun vrat” to atone for her remark hailing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "deshbhakt". She will reportedly observe her vow for three days – till Thursday, 23 May, when the results for the Lok Sabha polls will be announced.
Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, said she felt it was now time for some "soul searching".
While she apologised for her comment after the BJP demanded it, she packed in another apology in the tweet earlier today.
“After the poll process, time has arrived for soul searching. During this period, if my words have hurt the patriots, I apologise for it. As per the decorum of public life and to repent, I am observing a 21-prahar silence and will undergo hard penance.”Pragya Singh Thakur
Earlier, Pragya Thakur had responded to Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan’s remarks on Godse, saying Godse was, is and will remain a ‘deshbhakt’ (patriot). Haasan had called Godse the first Hindu terrorist.
“Nathuram Godse was a ‘deshbhakt’, is a ‘deshbhakt’ and will remain a ‘deshbhakt’. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a befitting reply in these elections,” she had said.
Prior to it, she claimed that the then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks due to her "curse".
Taking a dim view of her remarks on Godse, the BJP said it did not agree with her.
After her party condemned her statement and demanded that she issue a public apology, Singh issued a statement saying she respected Gandhi and his work for the country cannot be forgotten.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he will never forgive Thakur for insulting Gandhi.
“She has apologised. That is a different thing. But in my heart, I cannot forgive her,” said Modi, speaking to News24.
(With inputs from PTI)
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