India politician apologies for calling Gandhi’s killer ‘patriot’

An Indian politician has apologised for calling Mahatma Gandhi’s killer a patriot during campaigning for the country’s general election.

Pragya Thakur from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made the comment after actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan said the assassin, Nathuram Godse was India's first Hindu "extremist" earlier this week.

Several political parties had criticised her comment and her own party demanded that she should publicly apologise.

Thakur said it was “her personal opinion” and her “intention was not to hurt anyone's sentiments.”