PM should apologise over Pragya's remark on Godse: Digvijaya

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders apologise for Pragya Singh Thakur's remark that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a "patriot". However, according to Digvijaya, praising Godse was not patriotism, but an "anti-national" act.

Ujjain: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah should apologise over Pragya Singh Thakur's remark that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a "patriot".

Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur, who is contesting the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat against Digvijaya Singh, Thursday kicked up a row as she called Godse a "patriot".

Talking to a news channel at Agar Malwa in Madhya Pradesh, she said, "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt' (patriot), he is and will remain a 'deshbhakt'..."

Condemning her statement, Digvijaya Singh said praising Godse was not patriotism, but an "anti-national" act.

"Narendra Modi Ji, Amit Shah Ji and BJP leaders from Madhya Pradesh should apologise to the country. I condemn the words used against the Father of the Nation. Nathuram Godse was a killer and eulogising him is not patriotism, but an anti-national act," the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister told reporters.

However, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan had said that free India's first terrorist was a "Hindu", a reference to Nathuram Godse.