MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Sunday informed the legislative council that it won't let the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi's killer, Nathuram Godse, come up in the State.
As the house met on Sunday, Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt raised the issue of Godse's memorial construction at Sapad village near Kalyan in neighboring Thane district through a point of propriety, and urged the State government to intervene.
"Fascist forces who killed Mahatma Gandhi are now coming up to curb Bapu's ideals and teachings and the government is willfully turning a blind eye to it," Dutt said.
Though the government came to power by giving a slogan Sab Ka Saath Sab ka Vikas, the fact that the memorial is being built shows that it is actually 'Muhan Main Ram aur Dil Main Nathuram', he said while taking potshots at the BJP.
"Nathuram's memorial coming up in Kalyan is a blot on progressive Maharashtra and sends a very wrong message across India and even internationally," he said and urged the government to intervene and stop the construction.
While responding to Dutt's demand, leader of the house and revenue minister Chandrakant Patil assured in clear terms that the State government will ensure that any such construction would be stopped.
Hindu Mahasabha leader Pramod Joshi had earlier said here that the decision to build Godse's memorial on the lines of Savarkar memorial at Dadar (Mumbai) was taken two years ago, but the controversy around his name had delayed the project.
"Now over 2000 sq ft of land has been purchased at Sapad village about six km from Kalyan and the memorial will come up on a private property through people's participation, so we expect work on the memorial to proceed without any hurdle," he said.