Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)
New Delhi, Nov 28: BJP MP Pragya Thakur has been removed from the consultative committee of the defence ministry a day after she described Nathuram Godse as a patriot in parliament. Controversial as always, Thakur claimed that Godse is a 'Deshbhakt' sparking a fire with the opposition in Lok Sabha.
"We have decided that Pragya Singh Thakur will be removed from the consultative committee of defence, and in this session, she will not be allowed to participate in BJP parliamentary party meetings," BJP's working president JP Nadda said.
"Her statement yesterday in the parliament is condemnable. BJP never supports such statement or ideology," Nadda added.
Thakur's statement came during a discussion on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday. As protests erupted in the house, BJP members asked Pragya Thakur to sit down. "That is the heart of the RSS and the BJP. That is their soul and no matter how much they say otherwise, it will always come out," Congress MP Rahul Gandhi stated.
After being pressurized by reporters to clarify her remarks, Thakur said, "Listen to what I said first. I'd reply tomorrow."
"The very thinking of Nathuram Godse being deshbhakt (patriot), should end," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in parliament on Thursday.
Thakur's induction in the 21 members panel of the parliamentary consultative committee on Defence chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had created much debate on social media. Defending their selection of Thakur, the BJP claimed that the first-time MP would be able to help in 'framing right methodology' so that innocent people are not 'victimised' the way she was under the Congress regime.
Pragya Thakur, a 2008 Malegaon blasts accused, is out on bail and is facing trial for charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Earlier in a campaign for the national election, Thakur said, "Nathuram Godse was a 'deshbhakt', is a 'deshbhakt' and will remain a 'deshbhakt'," she had said while campaigning for the national election.
Confronting massive backlash, the BJP publicly condemned her remarks and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "These kinds of statements made about Gandhiji are condemnable and cannot be allowed in a civilised society. She may have apologised, but I shall never forgive her."