Another BJP leader in Godse storm; expel her, says Congress

INDORE: After Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP MLA from Mhow, Usha Thakur, has courted controversy by allegedly calling Mahatma Gandhi’s killer

Nathuram Godse

a “nationalist”.


While BJP denied she had said any such thing, Congress condemned the remark and demanded that BJP expel Pragya and Usha from the party.

A video shared widely on social media on Wednesday shows Usha Thakur — a state BJP vice-president — taking questions from a TV journalist. The question is inaudible but the channel, in its report, said she was speaking on Godse.

“Woh to rashtravadi hai heen (he is a nationalist),” Thakur says in the video, adding: “I believe that any person who thinks of the country all his lifetime… Under what conditions he took such a decision (to assassinate Gandhi), only he would know. You and I should not comment on it.”

The MLA’s purported statement comes barely 13 days after Pragya Singh Thakur calling Nathuram Godse a patriot. She apologized after condemnation by her own party and nationwide outrage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he would “never forgive” her for her Godse remark.
Asked about Pragya’s statement, Thakur says in the video, “The organization has clarified that it was her (Pragya’s) personal remark.”

BJP president Rakesh Singh told TOI that she has denied making any comment on Godse. “The party’s stand on the issue is very clear. It condemns the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. As far as she (Usha Thakur) is concerned, she has made it clear that she has not given any statement of this sort,” Singh said.

BJP’s state disciplinary committee convenor Babu Singh Raghuvanshi described the video as an attempt to rake up a controversy. “It is a heavily edited video. The TV channels are not showing the entire picture. Thakur is clearly seen saying that no one has the right to comment on nationalism of Godse,” he told TOI.

Notwithstanding the BJP stand, Congress claimed that the statement has revealed the true face of BJP and demanded expulsion of

Pragya Thakur

and Usha Thakur from the party.

Chief minister Kamal Nath said: “It’s very sad. In the coming days, the true face of BJP will lie exposed.”

Congress state spokesman Narendra Saluja said: “Usha Thakur, by calling Godse a nationalist, has made it clear that BJP is a party that follows Godse’s ideology. She has made a mockery of Narendra Modi and entire BJP. If BJP believes In Mahatma Gandhi’s sacrifices, commitment, contribution and ideals, it should immediately expel Pragya Thakur and Usha Thakur.”