Gwalior, November 15: Hindu Mahasabha observed the 71st death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse and co-conspirator Narayan Apte here on Sunday. Godse and Apte were hanged to death at Ambala Jail on November 15, 1949 after they were convicted for killing the Mahatma. Hindu Mahasabha observes their death anniversary as the 'sacrifice day'.

Mahasabha said that if the bust of Godse, confiscated three years ago from its office by the authorities here, is not returned, it will install a new one.

Its national vice president Dr Jaiveer Bhardwaj said, "Our members performed 'aarti' and paid tributes to Godse and Apte at Daulatganj." Also Read | Nathuram Godse Called ‘Patriot’ by R Nagothu; Andhra Pradesh BJP Leader Deletes Tweet after Congress Seeks Clarification.

"If Godse's bust is not returned to us by May, we will install a new one," he said.

He asserted that it was not a crime to install a bust in a private building and the Constitution guarantees its 'puja' (worship). The district authorities had confiscated Godse's bust in November 2017, thereby foiling the right wing outfit's attemptto turn its office into his 'temple'.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)