Kapil Sibal slams Union Minister Giriraj Singh over Godse ‘sapoot of India’ remark
2 min read 10 Jun 2023, 03:36 PM ISTUnion Minister Giriraj Singh called Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, a ‘sapoot’ (son) of India, sparking widespread condemnation from leaders across political parties.
PremiumRajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal slammed Union minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department Giriraj Singh on his remark on Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, whom Singh called as "sapoot" of the country.
While speaking to ANI, Sibal said, “Was Godse a good son according to Giriraj Singh?...RSS offered help to Britishers, how can they acknowledge Mahatma Gandhi? So this mindset is against principles of Mahatma Gandhi…"
"What is the meaning of sapoot? Poot means 'son'. Sapoot means 'good son'. The constitution of India has also a responsibility towards the cabinet. That means Grirajji is speaking on behalf of the Government," he added.
On Friday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh dubbed Godse as 'Sapoot' (son) of this country. He said, “The assassin of Mahatma Gandhi was not an invader like Mughal rulers Babar and Aurangzeb as he was born in India." His response came to the query about a statement of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi related to Godse while reacting to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's comment on Aurangzeb. He further said that individuals who take pride in being called the descendants of Babur cannot be considered true sons of India.
Also Read: Nathuram Godse: The nationalist who killed the father of nation; Some facts
Apart from Sibal, leaders of other parties has also slammed Giriraj Singh's remark.
JDU leader Neeraj Kumar said that if a person like Godse pretends to be the son of Mother India, then dacoits like Chambal, Dawood, Veerappan and Mallya are also sons of Mother India.
He said, “Godse, Veerappan, Dawood and Mallya are close aides of the BJP. Aurangzeb, Shahjahan & Akbar were born on this soil only. BJP must read history & must not distort it," he added.
TMC MP Saugata Roy has also reacted to Singh's statement. He said that Singh has made a communal statement and that he said he totally rejects it. “My reaction is total rejection of what Giriraj Singh said. He has made a communal statement, he has praised a person who killed the father of the nation. 'Babar ki Aulad' is a term used by communal people...we reject it. He called Mughal emperors as the people against India…," he said as quoted by ANI.
Meanwhile, on 9 June, former Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat termed Godse a patriot while mocking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for merely sharing the surname with the father of the nation.
"Gandhi ji was killed, that is a different issue. But as far as I have understood and read Godse, he too was a patriot. We do not agree with the killing of Gandhi ji," the BJP leader told reporters in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia. Congress leader Vaibhav Walia said Rawat's remarks were not just an insult to the father of the nation but also an insult to the country. "The eulogising of Godse must stop and to give a message for this Rawat must be shown the door by the BJP," said Walia, secretary in All India Congress Committee's Communications Department.
"If you (Modi) don't remove him from the party then it means what he has said has tacit consent from you," the Congress leader from Uttarakhand said.
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