BJP MP eulogizes Gandhi killer Nathuram Godse, uproar in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Congress member Husain Dalwai today told the Rajya Sabha that an outfit in Maharashtra was celebrating "Nathuram Godse shaurya divas (bravery day)", and the state government had not taken any steps to stop this.

Nathuram Godse had shot dead Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. He was later hanged till death.

Husain Dalwai alleged there were at least two state legislators in the list of invitees. "They are eulogizing the man who killed the father of the nation by observing bravery day. I have written to Maharashtra chief minister about this", he added.

Several opposition members entered the well of Rajya Sabha and shouted slogans against the government.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, the government was supporting the killers of Mahatma Gandhi in any manner and "this kind of language is unacceptable".

The Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned Rajya Sabha because of the ruckus inside the House.

Outside Parliament, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said, Nathuram Godse was as much a patriot as Mahatma Gandhi.

Sakshi Maharaj said, reading Nathuram Godse's last statement in court, one feels he had real pain in his heart for the nation. "He may have been angry with Mahatma Gandhi at that point of time, but we was not a traitor", he added.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu dissociated himself from Sakshi Maharaj's remarks, and said, "there was no question of eulogizing Nathuram Godse, who was responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi".