Ahmedabad, February 9 The planned staging of a Gujarati play themed around Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse, was cancelled in Ahmedabad on Monday amid protests by activists from the Youth Congress and NSUI, who alleged that the play was an attempt to "glorify" Godse.
The play, titled 'Hu Nathuram' (I am Nathuram), was scheduled to be performed at 9 PM at the Pandit Deendayal Auditorium in Ahmedabad, organizers said.
"The play was performed in Surat, Vadodara, and Bhavnagar on February 4, 5, and 6 during its tour of Gujarat without any controversy. However, it faced problems after activists from the Youth Congress vandalized the stage in Rajkot, where it was scheduled to be performed on February 7," said Jayesh Oza, an organizer.
Subsequently, the shows were cancelled in Jamnagar and Ahmedabad on February 8 and 9, respectively, he added.
Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda alleged that the play is an attempt by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to justify Godse's actions (assassinating Mahatma Gandhi).
"We will not allow such plays to be staged in Gandhiji's Gujarat as long as the Congress and those who follow Gandhiji's ideology are present," he said.
Echoing Chavda, his colleague and Congress spokesperson Parthivrajsinh Kathvadia said the party will not allow the glorification of Godse through such plays.
"The people of Gujarat have rejected Godse's ideas. After Rajkot and Jamnagar, the play has now been cancelled in Ahmedabad as well. Godse has always been a villain for Gujarat and India, and Gandhiji will remain a hero of India and the world," he said.
The play's producer, Sejal Painter, expressed concern over the vandalism of the stage, saying that they would have explained the theme of the play had they discussed their objections with them peacefully.
"Those people who are opposing and vandalizing the stage should not have resorted to violence if they call themselves followers of Gandhiji. We have not made Nathuram a hero. In the play, Nathuram's character says, 'If I killed Gandhiji, then I too must die," she said.
