BJP, RSS slam Hindu Mahasabha for commemorating Godse's death anniversary as Balidan Divas
New Delhi, Nov 16: The Hindu Mahasabha on Sunday commemorated the 66th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as 'Balidan Divas' and launched a website on his life even as a senior RSS ideologue disapproved of any action "glorifying" him.
As Godse's effigy was burnt by Congress workers in Thane in Maharashtra, the BJP distanced itself from the right wing outfit's programme and attacked the Congress for linking it with Godse's death anniversary.
"We observed the martyrdom day of Godse at 100 locations across India. A website on the life and times of Godse was launched by our Meerut unit," Hindu Mahasabha president Chandra Prakash Kaushik told PTI in Delhi.
He
said
a
book
on
the
life
and
ideals
of
Godse
was
released
in
Delhi.
Godse
was
hanged
on
15
November,
1949
following
his
conviction
in
the
killing
of
Gandhi
on
30
January,
1948.
BJP
spokesperson
Shahnawaz
Hussain
said
the
BJP
believes
in
the
principles
and
philosophy
of
Mahatma
Gandhi
and
considers
Godse
as
his
assassin.
"Someone celebrates his 'birthday' but BJP is blamed for it. This is an example of cheap politics being played by Congress," he said responding to questions about Congress' allegations that the programme has the support of the BJP.
He
said
while
Congress
uses
the
Mahatma's
name,
it
has
forgotten
his
philosophy.
Senior
RSS
ideologue
MG
Vaidya
also
disapproved
of
attempts
to
glorify
Godse.
"I
do
not
know
which
organisation
is
glorifying
him.
But
I
believe
that
to
glorify
him
is
wrong,"
he
said.
Noting
that
Gandhi
and
Godse
could
have
different
ideologies,
he
said
ideological
battles
have
to
be
fought
through
ideology
and
it
has
"no
place
for
bloodshed."
Vaidya said while Gandhi had spread awareness about independence in his lifetime, it does not mean that "we agree with all his policies."
"Some people say it will bring pride to Hindutva. No. It will bring a bad name to Hindutva," he said in an apparent reference to Hindu Mahasabha's programme.
"I
can
even
say,
Hindutva
has
suffered
due
to
the
assassination
of
Gandhi,"
he
said.
Congress
workers
in
Maharashtra's
Thane
burnt
Godse's
effigy
in
protest
against
the
Mahasabha's
action
and
those
supporting
the
programme.They
also
carried
black
placards
condemning
the
move
of
the
city-based
outfit
to
build
a
temple
for
Godse.
The outfit had last year announced to build a temple in memory of Godse.
PTI