No need to glorify killer like Godse: RSS’ Vaidya

Senior RSS leader M.G. Vaidya on Sunday said that Nathuram Godse was Mahatma Gandhi’s murderer and should not be glorified in any way. He also criticised other right-wing organisations for glorifying Godse saying that instances like these would defame Hindutva instead of bringing the ideology any dignity.

“He is a murderer and there is no need to glorify him,” Mr Vaidya told this newspaper on Sunday. He further added that Gandhiji had contributed tremendously for the nation and thus his name was mentioned in the ‘Ekatmata Shlok’ (Solidarity Verses) being read at RSS shakhas everyday.

“The fight of thoughts should be fought with thoughts only. It is not right to kill anyone as was done by Godse. It is wrong to glorify him (Godse). I strongly believe that this will not bring dignity to Hindutva. Instead, it will defame Hindutva. I think it was evil to kill Gandhiji who was such a respected figure in India,” the 92-year-old RSS ideologue said.

He was reacting to the commemoration of Nathuram Godse’s 66th death anniversary as Shaurya Divas organised by Hindu Mahasabha, Hindu Sena and Maharana Pratap Battalion in Panvel near Mumbai on Sunday. Hindu Mahasabha celebrates Godse’s death anniversary the November 15 as Shaurya Divas throughout Maharashtra every year.

Mr Vaidya also said that he doesn’t know which organisation is having the commemoration but he is against honouring and giving respect to Godse. The Hindu Mahasabha is the same outfit, which was in news for declaring its plans to build temples for Godse. Last year in December, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj had described Godse as a patriot sparking off a controversy following which he retracted his statement. “Godse was an aggrieved person. He may have done something by mistake but was not an anti-national. He was a patriot,” Mr Sakshi had said.