AGRA: Hailing BJP’s Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur’s statement calling “Nathuram Godse a patriot”,

leaders in Aligarh on Sunday celebrated Godse’s 109th birth anniversary by organising a ‘havan’ in the city.

Spokesperson of Hindu Mahasabha,

, said Pragya’s statement was correct but she had to later apologize due to political pressure. He said many political parties were defaming Godse’s name for taking electoral advantages. Pandey said that those who call Godse a terrorist are actually playing politics.

“We have prayed for his re-birth on this earth so that he could kill a person like Gandhi- who divided India,” said Pandey, adding that Godse was a true patriot and not a terrorist.

Criticising the celebrations of

, Pandey said that the people celebrate it as a compulsion, while Godse birthday anniversary is celebrated with happiness. He claimed that this nation can be protected only on the ideology of Godse not Gandhi.

State vice president

said that Godse will always remain a great leader for them. He said, “Godse’s temples and statues will be established across the country in coming days,” he added.