Six members of Hindu Mahasabha arrested for celebrating Nathuram Godse's birth anniversary

Six members of Hindu Mahasabha were arrested on Monday for celebrating the birth anniversary of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. The members were celebrating the birth anniversary of Godse in Surat, Gujarat on Sunday. The activist had organised an event within in the Suryamukhi Hanuman temple in Surat on Sunday. However, all six members were arrested for organizing the event.

Godse was born on 19th May 1910 and his birthplace Baramati was a part of Bombay Presidency. “During the celebration, Hindu Mahasabha members lit up diyas around Godse’s photograph, exchanged sweets and sang hymns in the temple premise. They also recorded videos and took photographs of the event,” Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma told PTI.

“Their act of revering Godse deeply hurt the sentiments of citizens. It was an attempt to incite people and disturb peaceful atmosphere”. he further added.

The activists have been identified as Hiren Mashru, Vala Bharwad, Viral Malvi, Hitesh Sonar, Yogesh Patel and Manish Kalal, and they all have been arrested under Sections 153 (provocation with an intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 153B (making assertions prejudicial to national-integration) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Bhartiya Janata Party totally condemned the act of Hindu Mahasabha and said that who “do not have the vision to understand Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings” does these celebrations.

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