The controversy over the Hindu Mahasabha’s plan to build a temple for Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, took a new turn on Sunday when thousands of villagers resolved at a rally here that they would not allow the temple to come up.
Civil society activists have sought to counter the Mahasabha’s “propaganda” against Mahatma Gandhi and the facts about his assassination. The villagers decided to approach the Prime Minister’s Office.
The ‘Jansamvad’ rally, organised by the Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena at Rohat, was attended by those of 20 villages in Meerut district.
Sena chief Amit Jani told The Hindu that the residents would not allow any Godse statue as it would be an “insult” to the idea of India. Mr. Jani, who vandalised the statue of Mayawati when she was Chief Minister, said the people of the whole country needed to oppose the temple plan. He would petition the PMO on January 11.
Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not spoken on the issue, Mr. Jani said: “We will not only ask the PMO to act against those who want to commit this anti-national act but also request it to make its stand clear.”
