Nitish condemns Pragya, favours her expulsion
■ ‘Won’t tolerate such things’
Patna, May 19: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday strongly condemned BJP’s Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur’s controversial remark describing assassin of Mahatama Gandhi, Nathuram Godse as “patriot’ and said BJP should consider expelling her from the party. Mr Kumar, president of BJP’s strong ally JD(U), made it clear that his party would not tolerate such things.
“This is highly condemnable. We will not tolerate all these things (Thakur’s statement terming Godse as patriot). Bapu is the father of the nation and people will not like if anyone talks about Godse in this manner,” Mr Kumar said. Mr Kumar was talking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling station located at a government school near Raj Bhavan.
In reply to a query whether the BJP should expel her from the party, Mr Kumar said that “it must be considered.”
He, however, was quick to add that though “It is an internal matter of the BJP, but so far as country or ideology is concerned, there is no question of tolerating such things.”
Mr Kumar said that he has categorically stated that it is completely in the domain of party to give reaction or take action against the person who made such remarks.
In reply to a query, Mr Kumar said that he has never compromised over 3Cs— “crime, corruption and communalism”.
Pragya Thakur kicked a row by describing Godse as ‘deshbhakt’. She, however, apologised over the controversial remark after being pulled up by her party. During a roadshow in MP, Thakur had said that “Nathuram Godseji deshbhakt the, hain, air rahenge, unko aatankwadi kahne wale log swayam ki gireban me jhank kar dekhe chunav main aise logon ko jawab de diya jayega (Nathuram Godse was a patriot, is a patriot and will remain a patriot. Those who call him a terrorist should look within they will get a reply in this election).—PTI