Pragya Thakur's comments in Lok Sabha have created a row. (File)
BJP MP Pragya Thakur, known for her controversial remarks, again described Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a patriot, this time in parliament. Her comments sparked outrage in Lok Sabha, where the opposition hit out at what it called the "BJP's deplorable hate politics."
Pragya Thakur, a first-time MP, made the comment during a discussion on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, when DMK's A Raja referred to a statement of Nathuram Godse on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi. She interrupted and said he could not give the example of a "deshbhakt (patriot)".
Mr Raja said Nathuram Godse himself admitted that he had nursed a grudge against Mahatma Gandhi for 32 years before finally deciding to assassinate him. Nathuram Godse, A Raja said, killed Mahatma Gandhi because he believed in a particular philosophy.
While opposition members protested against Pragya Thakur's comment, BJP members asked her to sit down.
Asked by reporters to clarify her remarks, Pragya Thakur simply said, "Listen to what I said first. I'd reply tomorrow."
The Congress targeted the BJP over Pragya Thakur's comment. "Repeatedly referring to Nathuram Godse as a patriot is a perfect representation of BJP's deplorable hate politics. Will PM Modi condemn Pragya Thakur's remarks or continue to stay silent?" the Congress asked on Twitter.
This is not the first time Pragya Thakur - a 2008 Malegaon blasts accused who won the election from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh - called Nathuram Godse a patriot. During campaigning for this year's Lok Sabha elections, she had spurred outrage and protests when, to a reporter's question, she said: "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'."
Pragya Thakur's remarks not only drew severe backlash from the opposition, but were also publicly censured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "These kinds of statements made about Gandhiji are condemnable and cannot be allowed in civilised society. She may have apologised, but I shall never forgive her," the PM had said.
After the national elections, Pragya Thakur again courted controversy when she told BJP workers at a meeting that she wasn't "elected to get drains and toilets cleaned". Many later accused her of denigrating the Prime Minister's Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, a movement inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
The 49-year-old first time MP has become known for her controversial comments. In August, after the deaths of former Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, she had accused the opposition of using "marak shakti" (occult powers) to harm BJP leaders, drawing much criticism.