New Delhi: BJP member Pragya Thakur on Monday referred to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a deshbhakt (patriot) during the debate in Lok Sabha on Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019, with several opposition members objecting to her remarks.

She made the remarks while DMK member A Raja was speaking on the bill. He referred to Godse's remarks on why he killed Mahatma Gandhi and said he nursed a grudge against him for over three decades.

Thankur interrupted Raja and said he should not give example of "deshbhakton" (patriots) for "deshbhakti" (patriotism)

The bill was passed after a reply by Home Minister Amit Shah. Several Opposition members demanded its withdrawal.