For BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, Mahatma Gandhi is "son of the nation"
Bhopal, Oct 21: BJP Member of Parliament Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, known for making controversial remarks, has kicked up another row by addressing Mahatma Gandhi as "son of the nation" instead of the "Father of the Nation".
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme of Railways on Sunday, the Bhopal MP called Mahatma Gandhi rashtraputra (son of the nation) like many other icons of ancient and medieval India.
The ruling Congress slammed Thakur for her remarks on Mahatma Gandhi, who is revered as Father of the Nation, and said the description shows her disrespect for the legendary independence movement leader.
She said, Gandhi ji Rashtraputra hai, Gandhi ji is Dhara Ke Putra Hai, Ram Is Dhara Ke Putra Hai, Maharana Pratap, Shivaji Maharaj Is Dhara Ke Putra Hai, Desh Ke liye Jisne Sarahniya Karya Kiya Hai, Nishchit Roop Se Wo Hamare Liye Aadarniya Hai, Ham Unke Kadmo Par Chalte Hai.
"(Gandhi ji is son of the nation. Gandhi ji is son of this land. Lord Ram, Maharana Pratap, Shivaji Maharaj are sons of this land. Those who did commendable work for the country are respectable for us, we follow their path)."
The first-time MP was asked why she missed the BJPs `Gandhi Sankalp Yatra' organised to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
In May this year, the Hindutva activist had called Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "patriot".
As the statement created an uproar and left the BJP red-faced, Thakur, a key accused in the Malegaon blast case, apologised and quickly withdrew the remark.
The state Congress lost no time in blasting Thakur and the BJP for her remarks on the Father of the Nation, terming them as insulting.
This shows BJPs hypocrisy. On the one hand, they are holding processions claiming to show their respect for Mahatma Gandhi and on the other, their MP is showing disrespect to this great leader, who is admired across the world, said state Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi.
Chaturvedi said, The country loves Mahatma Gandhi and addresses him as the Father of the Nation with respect and he should be addressed like that.
Thakur had also made controversial remarks against 26/11 hero Hemant Karkare.
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Cong min, MLAs meet Rajanna, BJP leader invites him to join party
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Bengaluru (PTI): Senior BJP leader B Sriramulu has invited K N Rajanna, who was recently sacked as minister from the Congress government, to join the party along with his son and MLC Rajendra Rajanna, even as a state minister and some ruling party legislators met the MLA.
This group of Congress MLAs along with Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Rajanna at his residence on Wednesday and held discussions.
"The whole community (ST/Valmiki) and its leaders are with you, come to BJP. You and your son come to BJP. Myself, Shivanagouda Nayaka, Raju Gowda and all our leaders, we will welcome you into the party and ensure that you will get more respect than us in the party," Sriramulu said.
He said Rajanna was sacked for speaking the truth.
Rajanna, who was Cooperative Minister was removed from the cabinet on Monday, following directions from the Congress high command, according to party sources. His recent comments on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "votes theft" allegations during 2024 Lok Sabha polls, seems to have proved costly for him.
He had said that voter lists for the polls were prepared under the Congress government in Karnataka, and had questioned his own party as to why they didn't stop the irregularities then.
Meanwhile, Rajanna's supporters staged a protest in Tumakuru opposing his sacking from the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet.
Congress MLAs Raghumurthy, Basavanthappa, Anil Chikkamadhu, among others met Rajanna along with Satish Jarkiholi and held discussions.
Speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said, "This was just a meeting."
"This was a meeting to tell him that we are with him and as part of our friendship, we tried to instill confidence in him. He said he is satisfied with his performance as minister for two years and there is a misunderstanding about him in Delhi (leadership) and that he will go to Delhi and convince the high command."
Asked whether Rajanna will go to Delhi alone or whether they too would join him as a delegation, he said, "Delegation going is different from him (Rajanna) going. He has to go and explain to the high command."
A delegation will be going to seek filling up of two ST vacancies in the cabinet, he said, "We will ask that they should be filled up without any delay and the same portfolios should be given to the Valmiki (ST) community. This is the demand. We will go after the (current Assembly) session."
Rajanna is the second minister to be out of Siddaramaiah's Cabinet, after the Congress came to power in 2023.
Last year, Bellary MLA B Nagendra had to resign following allegations against him in connection with embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation.
To a question on Rajanna earlier claiming a conspiracy against him, Jarkiholi said, "There is a conspiracy, he (Rajanna) has said that he will speak when time comes, it's left to him."
Responding to a question on taking Rajanna back to cabinet, he said, it is left to the high command, CM and the party president to decide.
