Madhya Pradesh: Hindu Mahasabha observes Godse’s birth anniversary again; Congress fumes

Despite the lockdown, like every year, the members of Gwalior Hindu Mahasabha celebrated the the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse on Tuesday.

Dozens of Mahasabha members gathered at Daulatganj office in Gwalior and lit 111 earthen lamps on 111th birth anniversary of Godse. They also paid tribute to his main accomplice Narayan Apte and distributed sweets.

Last year, on November 15, 2019, the Mahasabha had observed 70th death anniversary of Godse and his main collaborator Narayan Apte's hanging as ‘Balidan Diwas’ and burnt crackers. As the matter came to light, the Congress, which was in power in the State, ordered Gwalior police to register a case against the Mahasabha workers.

In the same month, Bhopal BJP MP Pragya Thakur had raked up a controversy by terming Godse a 'deshbkhat’ during her election campaign in Agar--Malwa which drew huge criticism from the Opposition and the party itself including Prime Minister Modi.

Now, the Mahasabha has once again raked up a controversy by celebrating 111th birth anniversary of Godse.

Slamming the state BJP government and CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath tweeted that the CM as well as the BJP should clear their stand on Godse. “CM Chouhan should clear the government’s stand on this issue. He should clarify whether he favours the ideology of Godse or Gandhi.”

In another Tweet he questioned, “ How such an event was allowed and organised amid nationwide lockdown? Who gave them permission and why the government isn’t taking any action against them.”

In Congress rule, the government had taken strict action against those who had observed the birth or death anniversary of Gandhi’s assassin, claimed Kamal Nath in another tweet.

In 2017, when the BJP was in power in the state, Gwalior Hindu Mahasabha set up a shrine of Godse in its Gwalior office on his death anniversary by installing his bust. Godse’s bust was unveiled amid vedic chants and it was worshipped with cow urine, curd, milk, honey and water of Ganges.

As the news broke out, the Gwalior District administration had forcibly removed the bust.