Congress flays BJP after Pragya hails Godse as a "patriot"

The Congress on Wednesday (November 27) reacted sharply over BJP MP Pragya Thakur comment for referring Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a ‘deshbhakt’ during a debate in Lok Sabha, saying it is a perfect representation of the ruling party’s ‘deplorable hate politics’.

“Repeatedly referring to Nathuram Godse as a ‘deshbhakt’ is a perfect representation of BJP’s deplorable hate politics. Will PM Modi condemn Pragya Thakur’s remarks or continue to stay silent?, the Congress said on its official Twitter handle.

When DMK member A Raja cited a statement of Godse on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi during a discussion on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, Thakur interrupted and said, “You cannot give example of a deshbhakt.”

Raja said that Godse himself admitted that he had nursed a grudge against Gandhi for 32 years before finally deciding to assassinate him. Godse, Raja said, killed Gandhi because he believed in a particular philosophy.

While the opposition members protested the interruption by Thakur, the BJP members persuaded her to sit down.

Security should be based on threat perception and not because of political reasons, Raja said and asked the Home Minister to revisit the Bill which seeks to withdraw SGP cover from persons other than Prime Minister.

The Congress, attacking Modi over the comments made by Thakur alleged that the PM’s inaction against the MP proved his support to “Godse’s sinister thought.”

The opposition party said Thakur’s remarks were a “perfect representation” of the BJP’s “deplorable hate politics.”

“Modi ji, inaction against Pragya proves your latent support to Godse’s sinister thought! India won’t pardon you!” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewla said on Twitter. Another Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, referring to Thakur, said “this motormouth” shall ensure the downfall of the BJP. “Whatever the case might be, this is an extremely dangerous sign and has made a complete mockery of the Indian democracy and its founding fathers,” he said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, CPI general secretary D Raja said that the PM and home minister Amit Shah should clarify if they endorse Thakur’s remarks referring Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a “deshbhakt.”

(With inputs from agencies)