Godse is in the DNA of BJP, remarks AIMC President Sushmita Dev

November 28:”Nathuram Godse is in the DNA of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while Mahatma Gandhi & non-violence is in the DNA of the Congress.” This was uttered by former MP and All India Mahila Congress President (AIMC) Sushmita Dev while speaking to way2barak on Thursday on the controversial statement made by BJP MP Pragya Thakur in the Lok Sabha.

During a Lok Sabha discussion on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, DMK member A Raja cited a statement by Godse on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi. Sadhvi Pragya interrupted him and said he couldn’t give the example “of a deshbhakt” (patriot). Her own party on Thursday condemned Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur for her statement on Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

BJP’s working president J.P. Nadda said: “We have decided that Pragya Singh Thakur will be removed from the consultative committee of defence, and in this session, she will not be allowed to participate in the parliamentary party meetings. The party never supports such statements or ideology.”

However, AIMC President Sushmita Dev said, “Mere expulsion of Sadhvi Pragya from the parliamentary panel on defence or not allowing her to participate in the parliamentary party meetings is not enough. She should be expelled from the BJP. This is not the 1st time the Sadhvi has insulted Gandhiji. She has described Nathuram Godse as a “patriot” once before — during this year’s Lok Sabha election.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condemned Pragya’s statement and said, “Mahatma Gandhi is our ideal. He will always remain the guiding force of this nation. His ideology is relevant even today.” Reacting to this statement, Ms. Dev said, “Gandhi and Godse cannot go hand in hand. The BJP should speak out whom they favour. If they are really hurt for insulting Gandhiji by Sadhvi Pragya, then they should prove it through their deeds by expelling her from the party.”