Nathuram Godse memorial near Mumbai? Maharashtra govt promises probe

MUMBAI CITY NEWS On the second day of the special assembly session pertaining to implementation of the GST in the state, Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt alleged that Hindu Mahasabha is building a memorial of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin in the neighbouring district of Thane

The Maharashtra government on Sunday said it will investigate and take appropriate steps to stop the alleged construction of a memorial dedicated to Nathuram Godse, the assassin of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. Reportedly, Hindu Mahasabha is constructing the memorial on a private land at Saparde Village, around five kilometres from Kalyan, in the neighbouring Thane district.

Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt said Nathur Godse’s (centre) memorial in Kalyan is a blot on Maharashtra and sends a wrong message internationally. (HT file)

Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt raised a point of propriety in the Legislative Council on Sunday and demanded that the state government takes immediate action to stop the construction.

Read: Row erupts in MP after Godse, Ravana called ‘great men’, Gonds ‘cow killers’

“After coming to power with the slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, the true face of the ruling party is coming to the fore proving that they have ‘Man me Ram, dil me Nathuram’ (Lord Ram in mind and Nathuram in their hearts),” Dutt said in the Council.

After the state Legislative Council chairperson Ramraje Nimbalkar ordered the government to respond to the issue, revenue minister and Leader of the House, Chandrakant Patil, said, “For any memorial, there are a host of permissions required from the government. We have not given any permission for any such memorial.”

Read: Disclose Nathuram Godse’s statement in Gandhi assassination trial: CIC

Nimbalkar told the government that though its has not given permission for the memorial, the issue needs to be looked into.Following which Patil assured that the government will do the needful and take steps to stop construction of the memorial if under construction.

“Now that the member has given us the information, we will investigate and take necessary action,” Patil said.

Meanwhile, Dutt asserted that secular parties would stop the construction of the memorial. He said, “Godse’s memorial in Kalyan is a blot on Maharashtra and sends a wrong message across the country and even internationally.”