Even as controversy related to BJP leaders’ utterances on Mahatma Gandhi-assassin Nathuram Godse continues to smolder, another party leader from Madhya Pradesh has sparked row by naming Mahatma Gandhi the ‘rashtrapita’ (father of the nation) of Pakistan.
Reacting swiftly this time, the state party unit suspended Anil Saumitra, the convener of media communications department, with immediate effect for making the controversial statement through a Facebook post.
Saumitra was also suspended from the party's primary membership by state president Rakesh Singh and given notice seeking reply on the issue within seven days, MP BJP media cell chief Lokendra Parashar confirmed to THE WEEK.
However, the action was not before Saumitra himself reiterated the statement (on Mahatma) to THE WEEK over telephone, before adding that former PM Indira Gandhi should be called the ‘mother of the nation’ of Bangladesh.
The controversy started late on Thursday night with Saumitra’s post on social media. Even as the party was smarting over Bhopal BJP candidate Pragya Thakur’s ‘Godse is patriot’ remark, Saumitra took to Facebook, though without naming Mahatma Gandhi.
The post read "Rashtrapita they, lekin Pakistan rashtra ke. Bharat rashtra mei toh unke jaise karodo putra huey, kucch layak, kucch nalayak" (He was the father of the nation, but of Pakistan. Crores of sons like him were born in India, some worthy, some unworthy).
In the morning, when the post created flutter, he wrote another, issuing an appeal to media to not confuse individual comments and opinions with party statements/stands. Saumitra said in the post that even a responsible officebearer (of any party) is not the party’s spokesperson all 24 hours. He urged the media not to "fall prey or attempt any conspiracy for any hidden agenda".
also read
- Madhya Pradesh: Cop crushed to death by tractor-trolley used for illegal sand mining, 2 held
- Madhya Pradesh: ‘Cong will win at least 5 out of 12 seats in first two phases in MP,’ says state chief
- Narottam Mishra calls MP Congress chief 'liar'; accuses party of ignoring tribal issues
- Madhya Pradesh: After PM Modi's roadshow, Rahul to kickstart Congress campaign today
But when THE WEEK contacted Saumitra over telephone on Friday (before the party’s decision to suspend him) and asked whether his post was indeed about Mahatma Gandhi, he confirmed the same. He said that Mahatma Gandhi was a ‘suputra’ (good son) of Bharat, but the Congress had, under a conspiracy, called him the ‘father of the nation’, which then got translated into Hindi as ‘rashtrapita’.
“If he has to be called the father of the nation, he should be called so of Pakistan as it was created in front of Mahatma Gandhi, whereas Bharat rashtra was created when Gandhi was not around,” Saumitra said. Similarly, he added, Indira Gandhi should be called the ‘mother of the nation’ of Bangladesh as it was created in front of her.
He further explained that Bharat rashtra existed since ancient times and even the sages used to call themselves as ‘sons of Bharat mata’. "So how can Gandhi be called the ‘rashtrapita’ of Bharat?" he asked.
