Sakshi Maharaj apologises in Parliament, Oppn livid

He said he respects Gandhiji and the House and "I have taken back my words."

But he said Gandhiji was killed again when in 1984 Sikhs were killed in the infamous riots after Indira Gandhi's assassination.

The Opposition shouted that his apology is no apology and Congress leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge said he should apologize unconditionally.

 Earlier, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had distanced itself from the remark of its MP Sakshi Maharaj that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was was a nationalist.

While Sakshi Maharaj later retracted his comment and said he did not mean it, BJP in parliament on Thursday reacting to the Opposition ruckus said there is no question of supporting such remarks or groups.

A Congress MP said in Parliament  that  Nathuram Godse was honoured at a function in Maharashtra. 

"I think Godse was also a patriot," said Sakshi Maharaj on camera but later said he did not mean it.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu told the Rajya Sabha that there is no question of supporting any people who endorse the assassination of Mahatma Gandh.

 Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government no way is supporting the killers of Mahatma Gandhi.