Pragya Singh Thakur apologises and retracts her statement on Godse

BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur called Nathuram Godse, a "deshbhakt" (patriot). The BJP distanced itself from her statement saying it did not agree with her, as "Mahatma Gandhi's killer cannot be a patriot". Thakur apologised for it hours later and withdrew the statement.

Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate and Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur on Thursday kicked up a row as she called Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "patriot",

After her statement stirred controversy, the BJP condemned it and asked her to tender a public apology for the contentious remark.

"We completely disagree with her statement and strongly condemn it. The BJP will ask her why she made such a statement. It would be proper for her to tender a public apology for this objectionable statement," BJP spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao told reporters at the party headquarters.

Hours later, Pragya Singh Thakur apologised and withdrew the statement.

Talking to a news channel in Agar Malwa in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday afternoon, Thakur 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."

She said this in response to a question over actor- turned politician Kamal Haasan's remark that free India's first terrorist was a Hindu", a reference to Nathuram Godse.

This is the second time in a month that Pragya Singh has apologised for a controversial statement made by her.

Last month, she had stoked a controversy when she said that IPS officer Hemant Karkare had died during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she had "cursed" him for torturing her. She had apologised for the controversial remark later and also retracted that statement.

Pragya Singh was in Agar Malwa to take part in a road-show of Mahendra Solanki, BJP's candidate from Dewas Lok Sabha seat.