The Apology That Wasn’t: Pragya ‘Sorry’, But Not for Godse Remark

Accused in the Malegoan blasts case, Pragya said, "I apologise if I hurt people's sentiments".

Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

(Photo: PTI)

Days after BJP MP Pragya Thakur referred to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a “deshbhakt” (patriot), she said that she was “misquoted” and said, "I apologise if I hurt people’s sentiments”, in the Lok Sabha on Friday, 29 November.

An accused in the Malegoan blasts case, Pragya took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for calling her a “terrorist”, saying that she has not been convicted by a court.

Pragya has only been granted bail by the Bombay High Court on health grounds in 2017.

Reacting to to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s demand to bring privilege motion against Rahul for calling Pragya a ‘terrorist’, he said:

“Do it. Do whatever you want to. I have clarified my position.”

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP

'Was Referring to Udham Singh,' Says Pragya

Reacting to the controversy earlier, Pragya tweeted saying she was misquoted and that she was referring to freedom fighter Udham Singh, not Godse.

Journalists on Twitter pointed out that they heard the MP make a reference to Godse in Parliament themselves.

Pragya’s ‘Deshbhakt’ Remark

When DMK member A Raja began quoting a statement by Godse on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi during a discussion on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill on 27 November, Thakur had interrupted and said, “You cannot cite an example of a deshbhakt!”

Raja said that Godse himself admitted that he had nursed a grudge against Gandhi for 32 years before finally deciding to assassinate him.

Godse, Raja said, killed Gandhi because he believed in a particular philosophy.