Now, plan to install Godse statue in temples

After its attempts to install Nathuram Godse’s statues at a few identified places in Uttar Pradesh was foiled by the State police, the Hindu Mahasabha now plans to install them on the premises of temples across India, starting with the Hindi-speaking States.

The Hindutva outfit is in touch with sants and trusts that manage hundreds of temples, which have allegedly assured it support.

The Mahasabha is determined to install one statue on January 30, the day Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, but is tight-lipped about its plans. After the public announcement to build a temple for Godse in Sitapur district and install a statue at an identified place in Meerut, the U.P. police sealed the two places. Under a revised strategy, the outfit will first install the statue and then inform the media.

According to a senior Mahasabha leader, Godse statues might soon be seen within temple premises in Madhya Pradesh, U.P., Rajasthan and Bihar to begin with.

“We have a dedicated set of youths who are brimming with nationalistic fervour and are ready to risk being arrested to put the Godse statue at Rajghat. But we don’t want it to work like that. We just want to spread the message of ‘Akhand Bharat’ (unified India) which was the main mission of Nathuram Godseji,” said another.

The statues, he clarified, would not be in the main part of the temples, which would equate Godse with the gods.

Sants and trusts managing temples have reportedly assured the Mahasabha of their support