3 BJP leaders to explain Godse remarks in 10 days: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Friday (May 17) came out strongly against three party leaders Pragya Singh Thakur, Anantkumar Hegde and Nalin Kumar Kateel for their controversial remarks about Nathuram Godse, saying the BJP has taken serious note of their statements, which are against its ideology. Shah has asked the party’s disciplinary committee to submit a report on the issue in 10 days for further action.

In a series of tweets, he said the remarks made by Lok Sabha candidate Thakur, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde and BJP MP Nalin Kateel are against the BJPs ideology, and the party has taken serious note of their statements. Shah also said these comments were their personal statements and had no link with the party.

“They have withdrawn their statements and have also apologised. However, their remarks are against the decorum of public life and the BJP, and also against the party’s ideology. Taking serious note of their remarks, the party has decided to send them to the disciplinary committee,” Shah said.

Thakur had on Thursday (May 16) said Godse was a ‘patriot’, while on Friday, Hegde tweeted that he was ‘glad’ over the debate on Godse, but later claimed that his account had been hacked.

“Am glad that 7 decades later today’s generation debates in a changed perceptional environment and gives good scope for the condemned to be heard upon. #NathuramGodse would have finally felt happy with this debate!” Hegde said in a tweet, which has since been deleted.

Kateel, a BJP MP from Karnataka, in a tweet compared Godse with Rajiv Gandhi. In a tweet which is now been deleted, Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “Godse killed one, Kasab killed 72, Rajiv Gandhi killed 17,000. You judge who is more cruel in this?”