Mahatma Gandhi's legacy is "sacred" to us: Anand Mahindra

Industrialist Anand Mahindra Friday said Mahatma Gandhi's legacy is "sacred" to us, and equated attempts to damage the same with the Taliban militia's acts of destroying statues in Afghanistan.

Mahindra's comments in a tweet come amid a controversy stoked by BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Thakur, a terror accused, praising Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse as a patriot.

"For 75 years, Indias been the land of the Mahatma; a beacon when the world lost its morality. We used to be pitied for being poor but we were always rich since Bapu inspired billions globally," the outspoken industrialist, who chairs the diversified USD 20 billion group, said.

"Some things must remain sacred. Or we become the Taliban, destroying statues that sustain us," he said, without naming Pragya or referring explicitly top her comments.

The tweet was retweeted by over 6,000 users in a matter of hours, including by Niti Aayog chief executive Amitabh Kant.

During an election rally in Madhya Pradesh, Thakur had Thursday said "Godse was a patriot, is a patriot, and will remain a patriot. Those who call him a terrorist should look within they will get a reply in this election."