The Congress on Saturday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Godse controversy, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi should either expel such “devotees” of Mahatma Gandhi’s killer from his party or bow before Gandhi’s statues. The ‘show off’ should stop.
The Grand Old Party’s statement came a day after Union minister Giriraj Singh termed Godse as a “saput” (worthy son) of India. Another BJP leader, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat had called Godse a “patriot” a few days back.
The Congress hit out at PM Modi, saying senior BJP leaders are glorifying Godse, the prime minister “says nothing” and does not take any action against him.
“Today we challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi: You have to do one of these – kick Godse bhakts out of your party or end the pretense of bowing down to Gandhiji. No place for Godse worshipers in this country of Gandhiji Modiji, you have to decide,” the Congress said in a tweet in Hindi.
The party also shared a picture of Prime Minister Modi bowing before the bust of Mahatma Gandhi during his recent visit to Japan.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, ‘First is former Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, who calls Nathuram Godse a patriot. Now Union Minister Giriraj Singh praises him. But the person who made Mahatma’s spectacles the logo of Swachh Bharat. – A new take on the earlier Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan – Says nothing and takes no action to drag down his allies.”
When asked about Giriraj Singh’s remarks, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that Rahul Gandhi has established at home and abroad that today the fight is between Gandhi and Godse.
“Mahatma Gandhi represents all that is good within us, in our society, whether it is truth, whether it is nonviolence or whether it is love. And Godse stands for violence, he stands for hatred, He stands for lies. And that question is why BJP people, senior BJP leaders, whether it is Giriraj Singh or former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, why do they glorify Godse and why Modi ji does not take cognizance of it? asked.
He said that Prime Minister Modi gets legitimacy from Gandhi, be it in India or abroad. “That’s why you don’t see him inaugurating statues of Godse. He goes and bows before Gandhi because Gandhi is the greatest messenger of peace, love and humanity. And the fight of our times is between Godse and Gandhi. We Know who stands with Godse as we definitely stand firmly with Gandhi.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday termed Godse as a ‘saput’ (worthy son) of India and said that Mahatma Gandhi’s killer was not an aggressor like Mughal emperors Babur and Aurangzeb as he was born in India.
Speaking to reporters in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada, Singh, who holds the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj portfolio, said those who take pleasure in calling themselves the children of Babur and Aurangzeb cannot be true sons of Mother India.
Earlier this week, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Rawat mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by calling Godse a patriot.
Hitting out at the former Congress president, Rawat said that merely having the surname Gandhi does not make his ideology Gandhian.
Rawat said, “Gandhiji was killed, that is a different issue. But as far as I have understood and read Godse, he was also a patriot. We do not agree with the killing of Gandhiji.”
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal hit out at the two BJP leaders, saying, “Mahatma Gandhi is the father of the nation. Celebrating his killer is an anti-national act. But if you are in the BJP, then celebrating Godse is a badge of honour.” The recent statements of Constitutional Minister Giriraj Singh and former Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat reflect the mindset of their party. The silence of the PM tells you that he approves of his every word.
(with PTI inputs)