Nathuram Godse, bust, removed, Hindu Mahasabha office, Gwalior

Bhopal: The Gwalior district authorities on Tuesday confiscated the bust of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse from the Hindu Mahasabha’s “office cum temple” amid tight security.

The right wing organisation had installed the 32-inch tall bust at its Daulatganj office in Gwalior on November 15–the day Godse was hanged at the Ambala Jail 68 years ago, and consecrated it with rituals.

The bust was removed on Tuesday as the notice sent to the Mahasabha failed to elicit a “satisfactory” reply.

Mahasabha national vice president Jaiveer Bharadwaj had said they had established Godse’s ‘temple’ at its office as the administration had denied them permission to construct a proper temple on November 9.

The administration had issued a notice to the Mahasabha five days ago under the Madhya Pradesh Public Place Regulation (religious place) Act, asking it to remove the bust.

However, the Mahasabha continued performing rituals including ‘worshipping’ the bust.

“As we couldn’t get a satisfactory reply to our notice we asked them (Mahasabha) to remove the bust in an hour this afternoon. As they failed to respond, we confiscated the bust this evening,” Gwalior Collector Rahul Jain said.

The right wing group observes November 15 as Balidan Diwas (sacrifice day).

The Congress had demanded that the saffron outfit be booked for sedition for installing Godse’s bust.