Storm in LC over proposed Godse statue in Thane

Mumbai: Maharashtra Legislative Council witnessed a heated debate on Sunday on media reports about a proposal to install the bust of Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse in a village in Thane. While the opposition said such instances are on the rise after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, the ruling party strongly objected to the charges.

Some sections of the media had reported that right-wing organisation Hindu Mahasabha planned to set up the bust in Sanpad village near to Kalyan in Thane district. The Hindu Mahasabha, however, said it has no information on any such proposal.

Hindu Mahasabha spokesperson Dinesh Ogale told The Asian Age, “We do not support any incident of murder. But now people are getting to know about his (Godse’s) thoughts and they are coming forward for such things. Whether anything is being done in Kalyan is out of my knowledge but if it is there, then it would be people’s spontaneous move.”  

Raising the issue in the Legislative Council, Congress member Sanjay Dutt said, “There are newspaper reports about a bust of Nathuram Godse being erected in Saapad village near to Kalyan in Thane district. Maharashtra is known for its progressive values and erecting the bust of a killer is not good for the state. These things are happening after BJP came to power. This must be stopped.”

Nationalist Congress Party’s Hemant Takle said such a move would be a blot on the image of the state. “We need to decide whether we want to continue on the path of Mahatma Gandhi or the path of violence,” said Mr Takle.