BJP Removes Pragya Thakur From Defence Panel After 'Deshbhakt Godse' Remark

BJP member Pragya Thakur on Thursday referred to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "deshbhakt" during a debate in Lok Sabha, triggering a protest by opposition members

BJP Removes Pragya Thakur From Defence Panel After 'Deshbhakt Godse' Remark/ Photo: PTI

New Delhi: A day after Sadhvi Pragya praised Mahatma Gandhi’s assasin Nathuram Godse in Lok Sabha, BJP Working President J P Nadda on Thursday said that his party has decided to remove BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur from the consultative committee of defence, and in this session of the Lok Sabha she will not be allowed to participate in the parliamentary party meetings. BJP member Pragya Thakur on Thursday referred to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "deshbhakt" during a debate in Lok Sabha, triggering a protest by opposition members. “We have decided that Pragya Singh Thakur will be removed from the consultative committee of defence, and in this session she will not be allowed to participate in the parliamentary party meetings,” BJP’s J P Nadda told ANI. “Her statement yesterday in the parliament is condemnable. BJP never supports such statement or ideology,” he added. Meanwhile, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, on Pragya Singh Thakur's reference to Nathuram Godse as 'deshbhakt', in Lok Sabha, said Pragya’s comments is the heart of the RSS & BJP and he don't feel the need to waste time demanding action against the BJP MP. “What she is saying, that is the heart of the RSS & BJP, what can I say? It cannot be hidden. I don't need to waste my time demanding action against that woman,” Rahul told ANI.

Terrorist Pragya calls terrorist Godse, a patriot. A sad day, in the history of India’s Parliament.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 28, 2019

“Our party has said everything that needs to be said on the issue,” said Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. On Wednesday, 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."

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh has given suspension of business under rule 267 in Rajya Sabha over BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur's reported reference to Nathuram Godse as 'deshbhakt', in Lok Sabha. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/mcKevLB3un

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2019

Even during the Lok Sabha election campaign, Thakur had described Godse as a patriot, triggering a huge political storm. Later, she had apologised for her statement. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the campaign, had said, "The remarks made about Gandhiji or Nathuram Godse are very bad and very wrong for society.... She has sought an apology but I would never be able to forgive her fully."