Godse is a murderer, doesn't deserve respect: RSS ideologue

The RSS on Sunday opposed the move by some Hindutva organisations to commemorate the 66th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi killer Nathuram Godse as “Shaurya Divas” on the grounds that he was a “murderer” who deserved no respect.

On November 15, 1949, Godse was hanged in Ambala Jail seven days after he was
given death penalty by a court for killing Gandhi on January 30, 1948, in the national
capital.

The Hindu Mahasabha, Hindu Sena and the Maharana Pratap Battalion held different programmes to observe “Shaurya Divas”  in Maharastra on Godse’s hanging.

“I don't know which organisation it is. But I am against honouring and giving respect to Nathuram Godse. He is a murderer. The fight of thoughts should be fought with thoughts only. It is not right to kill anyone as was done by Godse,” RSS ideologue M G Vaidya told a news agency.

The RSS continues to face political charges of killing the Father of the Nation. During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had slammed the RSS for the killing of the Mahatma. The RSS had denied the charges.

“Some people think that by doing so (killing Gandhi), they have encouraged Hindutva, but that is wrong. In fact, they have insulted Hindutva. I think it was an evil act to kill Gandhi who was such a respected figure in India,” Vaidya added.

The Hindu Mahasabha and the Sanatan Sanstha, which had come under the scanner for the murder of rationalist Govind Pansare, were among the Hindutva outfits that reportedly participated in the “Shaurya Diwas” ceremony held at Panvel near Mumbai to eulogise Godse.