On the one hand the entire nation is paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 67th death anniversary on the other hand Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha is observing the day as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ in remembrance of Nathuram Godse who had assassinated Gandhiji. The objective behind observing ‘Shaurya Diwas’ on January 30 is an attempt to bring forth Godse’s ideology. The Hindu Mahasabha is planning to construct a temple for Godse. The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party paid homage to Gandhji and wants to uphold his ideals for strengthening the country. Gandhiji believed in non-cooperation and ahimsa for resolving any dispute. How can people idolise Godse even though he was responsible for Gandhi’s assassination?
NCP organised a “silent protest” near the Gandhi statue close to Mantralaya to condemn the attempts being made to glorify Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse.
State NCP unit president Sunil Tatkare said his party was committed to secularism and would strive to preserve Gandhian ideals of peace and communal harmony.
“We will not allow extremist thoughts of Godse to be preached,” he said.
NCP leader Jitendra Awhad said, “This is happening after Modi government has come to power. After 67 years of independence, still there are people who favour the killer and not the person who is the ‘Father of the Nation’. This ideological hatred should not be tolerated in the country. The PM should speak up against this matter. The very fact that he is quiet on such issues shows what he stands for. This is certainly not right.”
Rohini Salian senior advocate said, “I don’t want to comment on their actions but I would like to say that Mahatma Gandhi is the father of the nation and he should be respected. His principles and values are followed by many.”
Nawab Malik, NCP spokesperson said, “This is not good at all. This kind of ideology should be highly condemned. It is great disrespect to the father of our nation.”
Congress leader Krishna Hegde said, “Mahatma Gandhi is the father of the nation. His teachings and philosophies have been followed by like Martin Luther King Jr., Obama and many others. Everyone all over the world are influenced by his principle of non-violence. He is beyond comparison. Glorifying his assassin is really regrettable as today the nation had lost its most influential leader.”
Vinayak Andhale, MBA student said, “It’s not right to kill someone but always remember that the murderer has a strong motive behind. Also depends on the personality, if he was a just and respectable man I would surely pay a tribute.”
Alina Dcosta, a student pursuing her Masters in Communication said, “As an individual, definitely killing the father of the nation was a horrifying incident but then I will have to go back in history to study the causes. In the end it is a wrong act. Problems with any person can be solved; killing out of revenge is never an option. If any prominent personality is assassinated I will surely not be judgmental as obviously it will be an act of regret looking at the person’s contribution to the country.”
Shahin Mulani, degree college lecturer said, “A murderer is a murderer. You just can’t kill anybody, be it for whatever reasons. People say that the law system is slow and it will take years to punish the guilty; so out of frustration they take laws in their hands and end up committing heinous crime.”
Karthik Subramanian a final year engineering student said, “It is wrong to glorify any person based on his actions, but instead idolise the person for his ideas. Definitely I will not glorify the killer. I will surely research about that person, his life – ideas, contributions and principles and will then pay him respect.”
According to sources, “If tomorrow the leader responsible for Gujarat riots is killed by some then will people start paying tributes to the assassinator and observe a remembrance day?”
Rashtriya Ekta Manch, headed by Congress MP Hussain Dalwai, organised a day-long dharna near the statue against Godse’s glorification. The Congress also paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at a function held at the party office in central Mumbai.
The Congress will never allow glorification of Godse, party’s state unit chief Manikrao Thakre said.
“Some elements are trying to celebrate this day as ‘shourya diwas’ with an aim to finish off Gandhian thoughts and ideals. This will not be allowed at any cost,” he added.
