BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj sparks row, says 'Nathuram Godse was a patriot as much as Mahatma Gandhi'

New Delhi, Dec 11: BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has sparked yet another controversy on Thursday by saying Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated the Father of the Nation, was a patriot as much as Mahatma Gandhi. This development gave yet another chance to the Opposition Congress to raise this issue in the Parliament and sideline the Narendra Modi government and disrupt the proceedings of the House.

As per media reports, the BJP MP from Unnav said, "Godse was a nationalist, Gandhi ji also did a lot for nation, but I don't have any detail of what event is being organised."

Opposition Congress raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha attacked the ruling dispensation and went on saying that the

has even planned to celebrate Godse's birthday as 'Shaurya Diwas'.

"Nathuram Godse 'shaurya divas' (bravery day) is being observed in Maharashtra," said Congress leader Husain Dalwai, raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha. He alleged that two legislators were also in the list of invitees.

As per a Times Now report, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said, "Must not encourage programmes celebrating Nathuram Godse."

The government however distanced itself from the controversy. An angry Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said government is not supporting the killers of Mahatma Gandhi in any way. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said there is no question of eulogising Godse.

Sakshi Maharaj later did a complete U-turn and retracted from his earlier statement saying it was a mistake.

If I said something by mistake I take it back, I dont consider Nathuram Godse a patriot: Sakshi Maharaj pic.twitter.com/JON8G7I3nL

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 11, 2014

Sakshi Maharaj was in news in the past as well. The BJP leader had earlier courted controversy by saying madrasas running terror camps in the country. The leader went on saying that none of the madrassas celebrate Independence Day or Republic Day.

OneIndia News