Pragya Thakur calls Nathuram Godse 'patriot', apologises & retracts remark after backlash

The BJP on Thursday condemned the remarks of its Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur in which she termed Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "deshbhakt" (patriot).

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. Photo: PTI (File)

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday condemned the remark of its Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur in which she termed Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "deshbhakt" (patriot). Adding to her list of controversial statements, Thakur, who is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, had said: "Nathuram Godse was a deshbhakt (patriot), he is and will remain a deshbhakt. Those calling him a terrorist should instead look at themselves. They will be given a befitting reply in this election."

#WATCH BJP Bhopal Lok Sabha Candidate Pragya Singh Thakur says 'Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a befitting reply in these elections pic.twitter.com/4swldCCaHK

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2019

Thakur said this in response to a question over actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's recent comment that free India's first extremist was a Hindu, a reference to Godse. Thakur was in Agar Malwa to take part in a road-show of Mahendra Solanki, BJP's candidate from Dewas Lok Sabha seat. She, however, apologised for it hours later and withdrew the statement after the party asked her to do so. Her spokesperson and BJP leader Dr Hitesh Bajpai said that she has apologised for her remark. "Pragyaji has apologised for her statement," Bajpai told PTI. When asked whether she has apologised to the state BJP president, Rakesh Singh, Bajpai said, "That is not an issue, but she has apologised and took back her statement." Distancing itself from Thakur's statement, the BJP said it does not agree with it and asked the Hindutva activist to apologize for the same. The saffron party also condemned her remarks. "The BJP does not agree with this statement, we condemn it. Party will ask her for clarification, she should apologise publicly for this statement," BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.

GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP on Pragya Singh Thakur's statement "Nathuram Godse was, is & will remain a 'deshbhakt": BJP does not agree with this statement, we condemn it. Party will ask her for clarification, she should apologise publicly for this statement. pic.twitter.com/yBEs8nQoWW

— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2019

This is the second time in a month that Pragya Singh has apologised for a controversial statement made by her. Pragya Thakur got herself embroiled in a series of controversies after being declared BJP's candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency. Her comment that former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare was killed due to her curse evoked sharp reactions. Thakur, out on bail in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, had said that Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack because she had "cursed" him for "torturing" her during the blast probe. She also had said that she was "proud" of her participation in the demolition of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya in 1992. The Election Commission had on May 1 barred Thakur from campaigning for 72 hours for seeking votes on religious lines thereby violating the model code of conduct (MCC). The 49-year-old is pitted against Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh, where polling was held on May 12. Thakur is facing trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the Malegaon blasts case in which six people died and around 100 were injured in 2006.