BJP MP Pragya Thakur Apologises For 'Godse' Remark In Parliament, Makes Veiled Attack On Rahul Gandhi

Bharatiya Janata Party Pragya Singh Thakur on Friday apologised for ‘Godse’ remark in the Parliament saying her statement was distorted by the Opposition. She also attacked former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, without taking his names, for calling her ‘terrorist’ despite being acquitted by a court. “A respected member here insulted me by calling me a ‘terrorist’,” Thakur said.

Earlier, Pragya Thakur was summoned by the Bhartiya Janata Party for her Godse remark in Lok Sabha. She was asked to clarify her remarks before the party's working president JP Nadda, general secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi.

The BJP had barred her from attending its parliamentary party meeting. But Congress said that her Lok Sabha membership should be revoked immediately. The party alleged that Thakur has disrespected India and Mahatma Gandhi through her remarks.

Thakur created a controversy on Wednesday with her remark in Lok Sabha during DMK member A Raja's narration of a statement by Nathuram Godse before a court on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi.

Amid the row, the BJP on Thursday removed Thakur from the consultative committee on defence.

"We condemn her statement strongly. She has disrespected the nation and Gandhiji. We demand that Pragya's Lok Sabha membership be revoked forthwith," state Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza told reporters.

"A person who praises Godse after taking oath of the Constitution is not deemed fit to be an MP. Therefore, we request the prime minister to sack her immediately," she said. 

During the Lok Sabha election campaign earlier this year, Thakur had described Godse a patriot, triggering a huge political storm. She had, however, apologised for her statement later.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the remarks made about Gandhiji or Nathuram Godse were "very bad" and "very wrong" for the society.

"She has sought an apology but I would never be able to forgive her fully," he had said.

During a roadshow, Thakur had 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."

The BJP had distanced itself from the controversial leader's statement and asked her to tender a public apology.

Prior to that, Thakur, a 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case accused, had also made controversial remarks about IPS officer Hemant Karkare, who was killed during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. She had said that Karkare had died as she had "cursed" him for torturing her.

With PTI Inputs