In an interview on Friday, 17 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed BJP’s Bhopal candidate Pragya Thakur for her remark hailing Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a “deshbhakt”, stating that he would never forgive her.
“She has apologised. That is a different thing. But in my heart, I cannot forgive her,” said the prime minister.
Just a day earlier, Thakur had whipped a political storm by “insulting Bapu” by stating that Godse “was, is and will always be a patriot.” While Thakur apologised for her remarks, it was only after the BJP demanded it.
BJP President Amit Shah, too, condemned her statement and asked her to file her response to party’s panel within 10 days.
"It was my personal opinion remark. My intention was not to hurt anyone's sentiments. If I've hurt anyone I do apologise. What Gandhi has done for the country cannot be forgotten. My statement has been twisted by the media," said Pragya, apologising for her remark.
What Did Pragya Thakur Say About Godse?
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.”Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP Candidate, Bhopal
Pragya’s Comment a Response to Kamal Haasan?
Haasan had invited the ire of the Bharatiya Janata Party on 13 May, for saying that India's first "terrorist was a Hindu”, referring to Nathuram Godse – who killed Mahatma Gandhi.
"I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Free India's first terrorist was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it (terrorism, apparently) starts," he said, according to PTI.
‘Country Will Never Forgive Pragya for Her Statement’
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the country will “never forgive” for her statement against Godse.
Congress’ Bhopal candidate Digvijaya Singh said glorifying Godse is not patriotism, it is sedition.
“Modi ji, Amit Shah ji and the state BJP should give their statements and apologise to the nation. I condemn this statement. Nathuram Godse was a killer, glorifying him is not patriotism, it is sedition,” he said,
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah also hit out at Pragya’s remark. “If the killer of the father of the nation is a patriot does that make Mahatma Gandhi anti-national?” he quipped.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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