BJP distances itself from Anant Hegde's remark on Mahatma Gandhi

The entire freedom movement was "staged with the consent and support of the British", said Hegde at a public event in Bengaluru.

The Uttara Kannada MP added, "None of these so-called leaders were beaten up by the cops even once. Their independence movement was one big drama. It was staged by these leaders with the approval of the British. It was not a genuine fight. It was an adjustment freedom struggle."

"People supporting Congress keep saying that India got independence because of the fast unto death and satyagraha. This is not true. The British did not leave the country because of satyagraha. Britishers gave independence out of frustration. My blood boils when I read history. Such people become Mahatma in our country."

While senior BJP leader Jagdambika Pal termed the comment as Hegde's individual opinion, Union Minister Ashwani Choubey said his party colleague should not have said something like this.

According to media reports, the BJP is upset with Hegde's remarks and may ask him to apologise unconditionally.

Mahatma Gandhi was brought in the light of controversy even earlier by the BJP though Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen praising the Father of the Nation on several occasions.

In one of the most controversial remarks of late, BJP MP from Bhopal, Pragya Singh Thakur, during the election campaign in 2019 called Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "patriot".

However, Modi and the top BJP brass came down heavily upon Thakur over her controversial remark.

(Image Credit: Anant Kumar Hegde Facebook)