ETV Bharat / state

Pragya Singh Thakur apologises and retracts her statement on Godse

By

Published : May 16, 2019, 11:14 PM IST

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.

Pragya Singh Thakur apologises and retracts her statement on Godse

Pragya Singh Thakur

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.

Pragya calls Godse 'patriot', seeks public apology & retracts statement

"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.

Also Read: Pragya calling Godse a patriot shows BJP's real face: NCP

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.

Pragya calls Godse 'patriot', seeks public apology & retracts statement

"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.

Also Read: Pragya calling Godse a patriot shows BJP's real face: NCP

Intro:Body:

Sadhvi Pragya calls Godse 'deshbhakt', BJP seeks public apology

(16:54)

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur on Thursday called Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, a "deshbhakt" (patriot).

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

"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," she said in Bhopal.

Pragya Singh was reacting to noted actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Haasan's recent statement calling Nathuram Godse the first Hindu terrorist of independent India. "The first terrorist post-Independence was Nathuram Godse, a Hindu. It started from there. He killed Mahatma Gandhi," Haasan had said.

In no time, the BJP condemned Pragya Singh's remark and said that she should tender a public apology for it.

"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. Narsimha Rao told reporters at the party headquarters Pragya Singh.

Conclusion:

TAGGED:

Pragya Singh Thakur

G.V.L. Narsimha Rao

Copyright © 2024 Ushodaya Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., All Rights Reserved.