BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur made the remarks during a debate on the SPG Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after DMK member A Raja mentioned Godse during his speech
New Delhi: A day after BJP lawmaker Pragya Singh Thakur made controversial remarks about Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathu Ram Godse, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (November 28) said there was no question of the party calling him "deshbhakt" (patriot) and added that they condemn such thinking.
Rajnath Singh made the remarks in Lok Sabha after opposition members protested over Thakur's remarks.
The issue was raised by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury soon after the House met for the day. He said that the assassin had been referred to as a patriot in the House.
Chowdhury was joined by other opposition members including AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi.
The Speaker said that Thakur's remarks had been expunged from the records and there cannot be a debate on an issue that is not on record.
He said the member should have seen the records before raising the issue.
As the opposition members continued to raise the issue, Rajnath Singh said Mahatma Gandhi was a guiding light for the party.
"If someone considers Nathuram Godse as a 'deshbhakt', then our party condemns it. As for Mahatma Gandhi, he is our idol. He is our guiding light and will remain so. His thinking is relevant today and will continue to be so in the future," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha amid uproar over the issue.
Singh, who is the deputy leader of the House, said all people irrespective of their caste and religion consider Mahatma Gandhi as their idol and source of inspiration.
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