Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly expressed displeasure at the comments of his party MP Sakshi Maharaj, who had described Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot".Sources say the ruling BJP has asked its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to rein in pro-Hindu leaders linked to it.Sakshi Maharaj was reportedly berated at a meeting of top BJP leaders this morning, after which he apologized in Parliament."I take back my words. I respect Gandhi and the country," the saffron-robed BJP MP said in the Lok Sabha twice, as opposition parties demanded his unconditional apology.Opposition members disrupted proceedings with loud chants of "Hey ram" - Gandhi's dying words.Sakshi Maharaj has been widely condemned for saying at a programme, "I feel Nathuram Godse was a patriot just as Mahatma Gandhi was." On Thursday, he back-tracked saying, "I don't consider Godse a patriotic person. I take back my words if I said something by mistake."The Congress has demanded a case of treason against Sakshi Maharaj.Nathuram Godse, a right-wing activist, had shot the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi thrice in the chest at point blank range on January 30, 1948. He was hanged in November 1949.Sources say the ruling party feels comments like these are "derailing the development agenda" and uniting the opposition against the government.

Another BJP MP, Yogi Adityanath, has repeatedly backed religious conversions at a time a united opposition has attacked the government in Parliament over the conversion of 200 villagers in Agra in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.Mr Adityanath has also announced a bigger conversion programme on December 25 in Aligarh.