BJP 'strongly condemns' Pragya Thakur over Godse 'patriot' remark, says Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday claimed that BJP-led government strongly condemns remarks of BJP Bhopal MP Pragya Thakur, hailing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse inside Parliament. In response to comments by industrialist Rahul Bajaj at an even, Amit Shah said that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has alrey censured Thakur's comments and that BJP has taken action against her. 

"Neir government r BJP supports such remarks. We strongly condemn it," Shah said. BJP leer stoked a controversy on Wednesday in Lower House, during DMK member A Raja's narration of a statement by Nathuram Godse before a court on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi.

As punishment for Thakur calling Godse a 'true patriot,' she was barred by party from attending parliamentary BJP meeting in ongoing winter session. terror-accused was also removed from consultative committee on defence. During a similar utterance in past, PM Modi has stated that he would 'never forgive' for insulting Gandhi and calling his murderer a 'true patriot.'

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Opposition irked 

Thakur's statement irked Opposition, who n filed an journment tice to oppose BJP leer's statement. journment tice was issued by Congress party, Trinamool Congress, AAP and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). AIMM Chief Asuddin Owaisi also gave tice to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla saying, "In this day and , when media is 24 hours whole country listens to what she has said.  I have given tice in Lok Sabha, let us see what speaker decides.  y are enemies of Gandhi and mirer of Godse. This is t first time she is saying and giving remarks on Godse," he said. 

Rahul Gandhi in a tweet called out terror-accused, saying, "Terrorist Pragya calls terrorist Godse, a patriot. A s day, in history of India's Parliament." After creating a row, Pragya Thakur in a conditional apology claimed that her comments were 'misconstrued and misrepresented,' furrmore condemned Rahul Gandhi's statement after Congress MP called her a 'terrorist.'

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She said,  "In last few days, I wish to ask forgiveness for any comments me by me in Parliament. But I also wish to say that my comments have been misconstrued and misrepresented and I condemn that. I h meant something else. I ackwledge and respect service done by Mahatma Gandhi towards nation," she said. Thakur ded, “I also wish to say that a certain MP has publicly called me a terrorist. Despite  previous government's conspiracies, charges have been proved against me. Without being convicted, calling me a terrorist is unlawful. I have been insulted as a woman, sanyasi, and an MP”.  

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(With PTI inputs)