‘Godse Killed Gandhi, Pragya killed His Soul’

Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi yesterday said Mahatma Gandhi is above power and politics and people like Pragya Singh Thakur are killing the soul of India and the BJP should expel her from the party.

His comments came after Malegaon blast accused and BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate Pragya Thakur lauded Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot" at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.

She later apologised for her statement, saying she respected Mahatma Gandhi and his work for the country cannot be forgotten.

"Godse had killed Gandhi's body, but people like Pragya are killing the soul, non-violence, peace, tolerance and the soul of India. Gandhi is above all power and politics."

"The BJP leadership should forego its interest of any small benefit and immediately take her out of the party in compliance with the Raj dharma," Mr. Satyarthi tweeted.

Thakur made the remarks on Godse in reaction to actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's comments calling Godse as the first Hindu terrorist.

Amid spiralling criticism, the BJP was forced into damage control mode yesterday with party president Amit Shah tweeting: "These comments have nothing to do with the party.  ... But these comments are against the ideology of the BJP and are being referred to the disciplinary committee".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he will never forgive Ms. Thakur for calling Godse a true patriot.