Giriraj Singh Faces Flak For Godse Son Of India Remark

Senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh, known for controversial speeches, termed Nathuram Godse a 'saput' (worthy son) of India in a swipe at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Singh said the assassin of Gandhi was born in India and was not an invader like Mughal rulers Babar and Aurangzeb.

"If he (Godse) was the killer of Gandhi, he (Godse) was also a saput of India. He was born in India. He was not an invader like Babar and Aurangzeb," Singh, who holds the rural development and panchayati raj portfolio told reporters while reacting to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's remarks.

His remarks came when a political slugfest erupted over social media posts regarding Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan.

In a rebuttal, JDU leader Neeraj Kumar asserted that Godse was a disgrace to the nation and can only be adored by the BJP.

"If someone is claiming that person like Godse is the son of Mother India, then dacoits like Chambal, Dawood, Veerappan and Mallya are also sons of mother India," Kumar told ANI.

"Godse, Veerappan, Dawood, and Mallya can be the darling of the BJP but the worthy sons of India are revolutionaries like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Ashfaqulla Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil, and Prafulla Chaki," he added.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday hit out at Singh over his 'Nathuram Godse a saput of India' remark, saying that by this statement many may not call the BJP leader a 'worthy son' of the country.

"Was Godse a good son according to Giriraj Singh?...RSS offered help to Britishers, how can they acknowledge Mahatma Gandhi? So this mindset is against principles of Mahatma Gandhi..." said Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.

"All of us in the opposition are clear about one thing we must stand united if we have to fight the 2024 elections and bring down this govt...I hope all parties in opposition get together," he added.