Congress chief Rahul Gandhi hits out at BJP over Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's "Nathuram Godse Is A Deshbhakt" Remark

Amid the controversy that broke over BJP Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's recent remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse by calling him 'patriot', Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has targeted the BJP and alleging that all in BJP are 'Godse lovers'.

Taking to Twitter on Friday morning, Rahul Gandhi said that 'BJP and the RSS are not God ke lovers but are Godse lovers.'

READ: Amit Shah Pulls Up Sadhvi Pragya, Anantkumar Hegde, Nalinkumar Kateel Over Pro-Godse Remarks, Asks BJP's Disciplinary Committee To Look Into Their Statements

This attack by the Congress chief comes after BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday morning slammed Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde and party's MP Nalinkumar Kateel over their remarks on Nathuram Godse.

In his first tweet, Amit Shah wrote that statements made by Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde and Nalin Kumar Kateel in the past two days are their personal remarks and they are not connected to the party's opinion. 

विगत 2 दिनों में श्री अनंतकुमार हेगड़े, साध्वी प्रज्ञा सिंह ठाकुर और श्री नलीन कटील के जो बयान आये हैं वो उनके निजी बयान हैं, उन बयानों से भारतीय जनता पार्टी का कोई संबंध नहीं है।

— Chowkidar Amit Shah (@AmitShah)

He added in the second tweet: "These people have taken back their statement, they have asked forgiveness as well. Even then party will take these statements seriously since it is against what the party stands for. We have decided to send it to the Discipline Committee."

इन लोगों ने अपने बयान वापिस लिए हैं और माफ़ी भी मांगी है। फिर भी सार्वजनिक जीवन तथा भारतीय जनता पार्टी की गरिमा और विचारधारा के विपरीत इन बयानों को पार्टी ने गंभीरता से लेकर तीनों बयानों को अनुशासन समिति को भेजने का निर्णय किया है।

— Chowkidar Amit Shah (@AmitShah)

In the third tweet, Amit Shah asserted that the 'Disciplinary Committee will take answers from the three leaders and will present a report within 10 days'.  

अनुशासन समिति तीनों नेताओं से जवाब मांगकर उसकी एक रिपोर्ट 10 दिन के अंदर पार्टी को दे, इस तरह की सूचना दी गयी है।

— Chowkidar Amit Shah (@AmitShah)

On Friday, Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde backed Sadhvi Pragya's comment on Nathuram Godse where she termed him as a 'patriot'. In a tweet, which has now been deleted, Hegde said "Am glad that 7 decades later today's generation debates in a changed perceptional environment and gives good scope for the condemned to be heard upon. #NathuramGodse would have finally felt happy with this debate!". 

Furthermore, Nalinkumar Kateel, a BJP lawmaker from Karnataka, went on to compare Godse with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Nalinkumar had taken to Twitter and wrote: "Godse killed one, Kasab killed 72, Rajiv Gandhi killed 17,000. You judge who is crueler in this??" However, the tweet has also been deleted now.

CONTROVERSIAL: "Nathuram Godse Was, Is, And Will Always Remain A Deshbhakt," Says Sadhvi Pragya Thakur Attacking Kamal Haasan Over His 'Godse' Remark

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his exclusive interview to Republic Media Network's Executive Editor Abhishek Kapoor said he won't be able to forgive Sadhvi Pragya for her comment. 

"Jo bayan aaya hai, puri tarah nindaniye hai, aswikariye hai, aur kabhi bhi aise logo ko aise galti nhi karni chahiye, galti se bhi galti nhi karni chahiye, galti se bhi galti nhi karni chahiye, satark rehna chahiye. Theek hai, baad main unhone maafi mangi, lekin main mann se unko maaf nhi kar paunga, jeevan bhar nhi kar paunga," the Prime Minister said in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone. 

("The remark is highly condemnable and unacceptable. People should not make such mistakes. People should not make such mistakes even by mistake. One must be aware. Yes, she may have apologised later, but I won't ever be able to forgive her.)