New Delhi: BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate and Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur on Thursday sparked a fresh row as she called Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "patriot", she apologised for the remark hours later and withdrew the statement.

Condemning Thakur, the Madhya Pradesh BJP distanced itself from her statement saying it did not agree with her, as "Mahatma Gandhi's killer cannot be a patriot". BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said, "We strongly condemn this statement. The party will seek clarification. It would be proper for her to seek and tender a public apology".