The play ‘I Am Nathuram Godse’ faced cancellation in Ahmedabad due to protests by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Youth Congress. Scheduled at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Bodakdev, the organisers decided to call off the show amidst escalating concerns over law and order. Nearly 75% of the tickets had been sold online, priced at Rs 275 each.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Parthivraj Kathwadia expressed strong opposition to the play, deeming it inappropriate for a state linked with Mahatma Gandhi. He emphasized the unacceptability of showcasing a play centered on Godse, Gandhi’s assassin, in the birthplace and workplace of the Father of the Nation. Kathwadia reiterated the rejection of Godse’s ideology by the people of Gujarat, leading to cancellations in Rajkot and Jamnagar, and now in Ahmedabad.
The Congress vowed to continue resisting any efforts to promote Godse’s beliefs, asserting that for Gujarat and India, Godse remains a villain while Mahatma Gandhi is revered as a hero. Protests by NSUI and Youth Congress members took place in various areas of Ahmedabad, with slogans and messages denouncing Godse and the play. Demonstrators also symbolically defaced images of Godse to express their disapproval.
The controversy initially erupted in Rajkot, where Congress activists disrupted the play, alleging its glorification of Godse and insult to Gandhi. Following the incident, police detained about 40 Congress workers, prompting the organisers to cancel the show, offer refunds, and apologize to the audience. Subsequently, the play was withdrawn from all three cities, including Ahmedabad, amidst ongoing opposition across Gujarat.
