Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, "was a deshbhakt (patriot), is a deshbhakt and will remain one," the BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur said on Thursday, adding to her growing list of controversial statements. Amid wide condemnation, even from the BJP, she later claimed that she would "follow the party's line" and the party's line was her line. She also said that she respects Mahatma Gandhi.
But she stopped short of an apology, despite BJP leaders calling for one.
"It was my personal opinion. My intention was not to hurt anyone's sentiments. If I've hurt anyone I do apologise. What Gandhi Ji has done for the country cannot be forgotten. My statement has been twisted by the media," she told news agency ANI.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi attacked the BJP, saying just disowning the egregious comment of Pragya Thakur was not enough.
The saffron-wearing Pragya Thakur, the BJP's candidate in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, had been asked to respond to an ongoing controversy over south superstar-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, saying that "Godse, the first extremist of independent India, was a Hindu".
The "Sadhvi" who is the main accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast, said, "Nathuram Godse was a deshbhakt, is a deshbhakt and will remain a deshbhakt. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a fitting reply in the election."
The Election Commission has also asked for a report from the Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer by today on Pragya Thakur's comments.
Pragya Thakur is an accused in the Malegaon blasts -- in which six people were killed and more than 100 injured -- and is out on bail. She was seen as the face of what was termed Hindu terror during the Congress-led UPA government's rule.
In a highly polarised campaign in Bhopal, the 49-year-old made controversial remarks like "cursing" Hemant Karkare, who died fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks, and bragging about participating in the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya.
She was asked by her party to dial down her statements and even banned temporarily from campaigning by the Election Commission.
The BJP has requested action against Kamal Haasan for his comment.
"I am not saying this because this is a Muslim-dominated area, but I am saying this before a statue of Gandhi. Independent India's first extremist (theevravaadi) was a Hindu, his name is Nathuram Godse. There it starts," Kamal Haasan had said while campaigning in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha.
Kamal Haasan Will Not Host Bigg Boss Tamil 8 "Due To Prior Cinematic Commitments" From Amitabh Bachchan To Kamal Haasan, 9 Jaw-Dropping On-Screen Transformations Rajinikanth On Kamal Haasan's Indian 2: "It Is Turning Out Well" Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Mamata Banerjee To Take Out Rally Over Rape-Murder. Trinamool Explains Why Mamata Banerjee To Take Out Rally Over Rape-Murder. Trinamool Explains Why UPSC National Defence Academy 2 Admit Card to Be Released Soon UGC NET City Intimation Slips For August 27 Exam To Be Out Shortly Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.