Outraged members of the Congress on Thursday protested in the Rajya Sabha against Lok Sabha BJP member Sakshi Maharaj for describing Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot and nationalist" leading to two adjournments during the Zero Hour.
Under attack in the House, the government said it disapproved of any attempt to eulogise Godse but added that no organisation should be defamed.
The MP from Unnao had said in a programme in Maharashtra that Godse was a patriot just like Mahatma Gandhi. But as demands for action against him grew he retracted his observation and said that he did not consider Godse a "patriot" but added that "if for some reason he committed a mistake, he was not a traitor."
Raising the matter, Husain Dalwai (Congress) said he had written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that Mahatma Gandhi's killer was being eulogised in the State by hosting a "shaurya diwas" on his birthday. "These people talk of development but are trying to create a rift in the society," he said raising the issue about conversions as well.
Even as he spoke, few Congress members held placards and walked towards the Well of the House. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien tried to bring order saying that it was for the courts to decide the culpability or otherwise for such utterances. Speaking for the government Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Muktar Abbas Naqvi said "we do not accept any honour of Mahatma Gandhi's killers."
However, members continued to agitate leading to adjournment of the House. When the House reassembled Anand Sharma (Congress) said it was "unacceptable that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin should be eulogised" to which Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said "there is no question of eulogising anyone responsible for the killing of Mahatma Gandhi."
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