Mangaluru: Ilyas Tumbe, member of the national executive of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) declared here on Friday that his party would never allow setting up of statues or temples in honour of Nathuram Godse, who had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi who was instrumental in India’s attaining independence and who had dreamt of India with peace and harmony ruling supreme.
He was addressing a rally organized in front of the deputy commissioner’s officer to mark the Martyrs’ Day to coincide with the day on which the Mahatma had laid down his life.
He cautioned that if attempts were to be made to erect a Godse statue in and around Mangaluru, it would be knocked down. He also said that a stage-play making a mockery of Mahatma Gandhi was being staged outside the state. Even that performance would not be allowed to be shown here.
Saying that Godse stood for destruction and killing. It was a national tragedy that the man who showed no feelings towards the Dalits was being glorified. The time had come to see that Godse’s progeny was banished from the country.
SDPI district president Nawaz Ullal presided over the meeting. Those who spoke included SDPI state president Haneef Khan Konaje, state committee member Alphonso Franco, district vice president M Koosappa Puttur.