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SHAME: On Gandhi's 150th anniversary, 'Long Live Godse' trends at the top on Twitter in India

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Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: It is no longer shocking anymore. On Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, it was not Gandhi but the killer Godse whose name was trending at the top in India.

'Godse Amar Rahein' or 'Long Live Godse' was trending at number 1 in India''. There were more than 22,000 tweets with this hashtag, clearly by supporters and followers of Nathuram Godse, the man who had shot Mahatma Gandhi and who was hanged for the crime.

'Those who are tweeting in favour of Godse are all terror apologists, supporting terrorist Nathuram Godse. These people are no different that the terrorists based in Pakistan...', tweeted Gaurav Pandhi. Several others too reacted with shock and expressed anger over the number of tweets in favour of Godse, today.

The rise of 'Godse cult' in India

While most political parties were remembering Gandhi and his contribution, the people who support Godse, a close confidante of VD Savarkar, are clearly growing in the country. BJP leaders publicly praise Gandhi and kep a distance from Godse, it is also true that they openly support VD Savarkar, who had also faced trial in Gandhi's assassination.

Though he was an accused in the case, Savarkar was later acquitted. Godse was his close cnofidnate and disciple. Though publicly many right-wing leaders praise Gandhi, their support for Godse is well-known. Also, most of the Godse supporters on social media are right-wingers.

Just that Gandhi is too big an icon internationally, that it is difficult to abandon him or reject him. However, a parallel stream among the right-wing will keep ensuring that the narrative of Hindu Mahasabha-RSS as true flagbearers of Hinduism and Hindutva would continue. With every passing year, the narrative keeps getting stronger.

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Journalist for more than 20 years. Had started his career with National Mail in the nineties. Worked as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, as an Assistant Editor with DB Post, later Contributing Editor with The Huffington Post, writes for First Post, The Wire, Newsd & several other major publications.