Man who built temple for Godse joins Madhya Pradesh Congress, sparks controversy

A new political controversy seems to be simmering in the Madhya Pradesh Congress after the party inducted a former municipal corporator who built a temple dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

Babulal Chaurasiya was inducted into the party in the presence of former Chief Minister and MP Congress President Kamal Nath.

Even as the Congress claimed that Chaurasiya, who claims to be a former member of the party, was welcome because the party leaders believe in second chances, the BJP hit out at the party for its "double standards."

“Chaurasiya was an active member of the Congress. He decided to return to the party...we welcomed him because our party leaders are like Rahul Gandhi, who has even forgiven the murderers of his father to give them a chance...” Congress’s Gwalior MLA Praveen Pathak is quoted as saying in the report.

BJP leader Narottam Mishra slammed the party by saying, "Congress leaders use the name of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi for votes only like they use the name of B R Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during elections only.”

BJP leader Rajneesh Agrawal alleged that "the truth" was now revealed as to how "a Congressman hatched the conspiracy to malign the image of the saffron party."

According to the report, Chaurasiya built a temple dedicated to Godse in 2017 when he was with the Hindu Mahasabha. After being inducted into the party, Chaurasiya blamed the Hindu Mahasabha for misguiding him. “The leaders of Hindu Mahasabha showed some fake books to me about Godse. But recently, I realized my mistake and left the organisation,” he said.

The Hindu Mahasabha, however, claimed that Chaurasiya was expelled three days ago.

“How was it possible to misguide a person for six years? He was associated with the Hindu Mahasabha for the past six years. We have videos of his speeches in which he was seen praising Godse. Recently, we came to know that Chaurasiya used to take money from a local Congress MLA for sending people from his ward to the Congress party political rallies. We removed him from the organisation three days ago after serving a show-cause notice to him,” Hindu Mahasabha national Vice President Jaiveer Bhardwaj told the publication.

The move also seems to have created a split within the Congress state unit with many party leaders disapproving it, dubbing it "wrong". “It is wrong to welcome an admirer of Godse to the party. I don’t know the reason why he has been allowed to join the party but we will surely oppose this decision,” Senior party leader Manak Agrawal is quoted as saying.