Hours after she triggered a political row by making ‘Nathuram Godse is a patriot’ remark, BJP’s Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate Pragya Singh Thakur tendered an apology on Thursday night and said she respected Mahatma Gandhi as his work for the country cannot be forgotten.
“My sentiment was not to hurt anyone’s feelings. If it has hurt anybody’s feelings then I apologise. What Gandhi ji has done for the country cannot be forgotten. I respect him a lot,” she said in a video statement.
#WATCH #PragyaThakur on #Godse is patriot remark: “It was my personal opinion remark. My intention was not to hurt anyone’s sentiments. If I’ve hurt anyone I do apologise. What Gandhi Ji has done for the country cannot be forgotten. My statement has been twisted by the media.” pic.twitter.com/J3T9pUAfLB
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 16, 2019
Asked about the BJP terming her remarks as her personal views, she agreed and added that she was a disciplined worker of the party. She said her party’s line is her line.
ALSO READ: Nathuram Godse was, is and will be a ‘deshbhakt’: Sadhvi Pragya; BJP demands public apology
Earlier in the day, when questioned about actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s remark that India’s first terrorist was a Hindu (in reference to Godse), Thakur had said, “Nathuram Godse was a ‘deshbhakt’, is a ‘deshbhakt’ and will remain a ‘deshbhakt’.”
#WATCH BJP Bhopal Lok Sabha Candidate Pragya Singh Thakur says ‘Nathuram Godse was a ‘deshbhakt’, is a ‘deshbhakt’ and will remain a ‘deshbhakt’. People calling him a terrorist should instead look within, such people will be given a befitting reply in these elections pic.twitter.com/4swldCCaHK
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2019
The BJP condemned her statement and asked her to tender a public apology. BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said, “BJP does not agree with this statement, we condemn it. Party will ask her for clarification, she should apologise publicly for this statement.”