A group social activists went on a day-long hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Saturday to condemn Pragya Singh Thakur, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal and accused in the Malegaon blasts case, for calling Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse a patriot.
Criticising Ms. Thakur for insulting Gandhi, the activists sat on a protest from 11.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The BJP candidate, responding to actor-politician Kamal Hassan’s statement calling Godse a terrorist, had said, “Godse was a patriot, and will remain a patriot. Those who call him a terrorist should look within, they will get a reply in this election.”
Jatin Desai, a journalist and human rights activist, said, “How can the BJP give a ticket to Ms. Thakur despite knowing that she is involved in criminal activity? Calling a terrorist a patriot is not acceptable at all.” Mr. Desai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he would never forgive Ms. Thakur for the remark is not a satisfactory response.
Activists carried posters that read, “Mr. PM will you show courage and expel Pragya Singh, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde and BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel for insulting Mahatma Gandhi and nation?” and “History will never forgive PM Modi for giving tickets to Godse supporters.” They were also enraged at the Prime Minister’s silence during the press conference held on Friday.
G.R. Vohra, one of the protesters, said the statements made by members of the ruling party were a reflection of “their intellectual bankruptcy.” On what they expect from the new government, the activists said, “We want a more secular and united nation. Using the tactics of Hindutva to garner votes is not what governance is about.”