Maharashtra: IAS officer's tweet on Mahatma Gandhi triggers controversy

Nidhi Choudhari, who had triggered a controversy by tweeting where it appeared that she had questioned the celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary and even "thanked" his assassin Nathuram Godse, on Sunday said  her posts were misinterpreted.

Nidhi Choudhari said she was 'hurt' as her tweets were misinterpreted and said she had written it with 'sarcasm'.

"Well, this is yet another from last month. Those who have misinterpreted my tweet of 17.5.2019 should go through my timeline. Even past few months tweets would be self explanatory.I am deeply hurt and saddened by misinterpretation to a tweet written with sarcasm," the IAS officer tweeted.

Officer Nidhi Choudhari, tweeting with the hashtag Godse on May 17, had appeared to question the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi and said his statues should be brought down and his photos taken off walls and currency notes, NDTV reported.

According to a report published in The Hindu, following her tweet, Nationalist Congress Party leader Jitendra Awhad on Saturday demanded her suspension.

Choudhari is an IAS officer and she is posted in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

She is followed by over 9000 people on Twitter.

Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Choudhari said: "The tweet was written with sarcasm, deep pain and anguish. Those who know me know my deep respect for Gandhiji. I cannot disrespect him. Mr. Awhad's demand is his own. I have not said anything against Gandhiji, instead it is against those who vilify him," Ms. Choudhari said.