New Delhi, January 11: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amitabh Sinha, who appeared in a television debate against former JNU Students' Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar, ended up stoking a row. Days after his party lawmaker Pragya Singh Thakur landed in soup for supporting Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, Sinha said he is not opposed to him either. Pragya Singh Thakur Apologises For Her 'Godse Patriot' Comment in Lok Sabha.

Users on Twitter were outraged after the video, which shows Sinha saying that he is "not opposed to Godse", went viral. In the clip, Sinha and Kanhaiya could be seen sparring over their respective ideologies. When the BJP leader asks his CPI counterpart to say "Stalin Murdabad", the latter agrees, but also hits back asking whether he would say the same for Godse.

After Kanhaiya's repeated insistence that Sinha must clear his stand on Godse, the BJP leaded ended up saying that the issue is not revolving around Gandhi's assassin and that he is not opposed to him. Amid the ruckus, a person sitting in the audience ended up shouting, "Godse Zindabad (Long Live, Godse)!"

Here's How Twitterati Reacted

'Will PM Modi Forgive Sinha?'

Apology Demanded

Social media users also slammed Sinha for allegedly threatening Kanhaiya, by saying that the former JNUSU chief would be taught a lesson if he does not mend his ways. "Sudhroge nahi toh thoke jaoge," the BJP leader was heard as saying. Twitter users condemned India Today for allowing such language to be used on their show.

Watch Full Video of Amitabh Sinha vs Kanhaiya Kumar Debate on India Today

The controversy involving Sinha comes in the backdrop of Pragya Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts, had called Godse a "patriot". She had first issued the contentious remarks during her campaign trail for the parliamentary polls in April -- which had prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say that he would "never forgive her". The remark was allegedly uttered by her in the Parliament in November this year. Pragya had, however, later claimed that she was referring to freedom fighter Udham Singh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2020 01:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).