DK Congress Demands Nalin Kateel’s Expulsion from BJP for Remarks Defending Godse
Mangaluru: “This is a painful and unforgivable matter. The father of the nation – Mahatma Gandhi was a Mahatma who made India an independent country. Gandhiji is respected in all 140 countries of the world. Nalin Kumar Kateel should have pondered over why the citizens of other countries also respect Gandhiji. Pragya Thakur, who is out on bail, has praised the man who shot Gandhiji with a pistol. The BJP party has given a Lok Sabha ticket to such a person. The Prime Minister says that he will never forgive her, but he has still given her a nomination ticket. Union Minister Ananth Hegde makes statements that are anti-national but he still holds the post of a minister with the blessings of the Prime Minister. The BJP party makes mistakes and then asks for forgiveness”, said Former Congress Minister Ramanath Rai, at a protest held in front of the DCC Office, Mallikatta here, on May 18.
Addressing the gathering Ramanath Rai said, “During the Gujarat riots, Vajpayee had told Modi that he should not play ‘Rajdharm’ politics. However, the same party has made him the Prime Minister today. Everyone including the public and media should condemn this issue. Nalin Kumar Kateel’s statements are unforgivable. He can delete the tweets and apologize but it doesn’t solve the issue. The discourse has been getting lower and lower. How many years did Gandhiji and Nehru spend in jail under British rule? Today, Kateel has insulted all those mighty individuals who made India independent. If this country was not free, Kateel and Hegde would not have been able to get elected to Lok Sabha. Modi would not have been able to become Prime Minister. The same people regard Godse as a ‘deshbhakt’ or patriot. No one should even think of uttering such words.”
Speaking to the gathering, MLC and Parliamentary Secretary Ivan D’Souza said, “This is a serious issue that is being discussed here. The person who assassinated the father of the nation is, unfortunately, being praised. The people who are defending this assassin are the same ones who have appointed themselves as ‘chowkidars’ or guardians of the nation. Whoever does not believe in this country’s values can leave this country. Nalin Kumar Kateel and Ananth Kumar Hegde have ruined the reputation of this district. We should be ashamed that Kateel has been the MP of this district for two terms. If BJP truly respects Mahatma Gandhi, they should immediately expel Kateel from the party. Otherwise, the public will expel BJP from this country.”
