Under fire from the BJP for extending membership to a Nathuram Godse-admirer recently, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kamal Nath responded on Monday asking what the issue was if someone “wanted to amend their mistakes”.

Nath made the statement at the Rising MP Summit in Bhopal on Monday.

Asked to comment on the BJP allegations of Congress embracing a Godse follower, Nath hit back saying an MLA had brought the man (Babulal Chaurasiya) to him saying he had been a Congress leader of 30 years, and that he had contested as Hindu Mahasabha ticket last time after being denied a ticket from Congress.

“I saw his certificates which he attained from Congress leaders in trainings and other programmes during the past three decades, and he wanted to amend his mistake, so what was wrong in making him join the party?” Nath said.

“Even if Shivraj ji wants to amend his mistakes, he is most welcome in Congress party,” he quipped.

On losing power to the BJP last year, Nath said he “allowed” the power to “drift away” despite being well-informed about the “saudebazi”, as he never wanted to set a wrong precedence by engaging in such practices.

“I only was saddened that I could not complete the things I started and things I wanted to initiate in my government,” said Nath, alleging that unemployment was rising in the last year and all sections including farmers, and traders, were hassled.

The Congress chief brushed off rumours that he wanted to retire, saying he was very much active and would remain in Madhya Pradesh even if he was to live in his village. “My earlier statement was circulated in a distorted manner,” he claimed.

He also backed the idea of developing a second line of leadership in the Congress. “Let them (members) have a meeting and choose the new Leader of Opposition, I have no qualms about it,” he said.

On recent elections, he raised doubts about EVMs and questioned the BJP’s problem with paper ballots. “I am not saying they rig polls, but if EVMs are under scanner then why are they hell bent on holding polls with them, even as no major country in the world uses them except for some smaller nations in Africa,” he said.

He clarified his stand on 23 senior Congress leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi on reforms in the party, saying they all are dedicated Congressmen and only want the party to strengthen as the Congress needs to take on the might of BJP.

He was all praise for West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee ahead of the assembly elections, and said he knew her since the Youth Congress days and that her commitment and activeness was matchless. He also asked the BJP to allay fears on EVMs.

Asked whether Congress will contest the 2023 assembly polls under his leadership, Nath claimed he will be around to run shoulders with members and affirmed that his party would have a strong organisation in the next two years for giving tough fight to the BJP then.