Godse temple in Gwalior sparks political controversy

The right-wing organisation Hindu Mahasabha has kicked off a storm in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior by installing the bust of Nathuram Godse to mark the anniversary of his execution. The bust was installed on Wednesday at the office premises of the Hindu Mahasabha amid Vedic chants.

According to reports, leaders of the Mahasabha said every Tuesday they will perform "Akhand Bharat aarti in the temple" to apprise the younger generation about Godse's life and vision. This is not the first time Mahasabha sought to glorify Gandhi's killer. The Hindu outfit installed a similar bust at its office in Meerut in the past.

Surprisingly, the ruling BJP in the state did not object to the installation of the bust in Gwalior. Opposition Congress is planning to take the matter to court. Nathuram was a right-wing advocate of Hindu nationalism, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, shooting him in the chest three times at point-blank range in New Delhi on 30 January 1948. Godse was hanged in the Ambala jail on 15 November 1949.