New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj sparked a controversy on Thursday by saying that Nathuram Godse was as much a patriot as Mahatma Gandhi.

He said, “Nathuram Godse as much a nationalist as Mahatma Gandhi. Godse was a nationalist and Gandhi did a lot for India.”

Gandhi’s assassin Godse is being eulogised in Maharashtra. The Congress said, “Godse bravery day is being observed in Maharashtra.”

The issue was raised in Rajya Sabha which witnessed uproarious scenes with members from Congress lodging strong protest against eulogising of Nathuram Godse at a function held in Maharashtra earlier this month.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Husain Dalwai (Congress) said he has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over hosting the event attended by some religious leaders and former MLAs. “Mahatma Gandhi’s killer is being eulogised by hosting his ‘Shaurya Diwas’ in Maharashtra… These people talk of development, but are trying to create a rift in society,” he said, accusing the right-wing organisations of indulging in such things, including religious conversions that created tension in society.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “This is not acceptable. Mahatma Gandhi’s killer, whosoever it may be, we are against it…We do not accept any honour of Mahatma Gandhi’s killers.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, “There is no question of eulogising such a person. We should leave the matter there, but defaming an organisation is not acceptable.”