Former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was given a rousing welcome in Bhopal on Sunday, her first visit to the Madhya Pradesh capital since her acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case. The controversial religious figure used the moment to launch a hard-hitting criticism of the Congress party, accusing them of masterminding a wilful conspiracy and calling for treason charges against the opposition party.
Addressing media representatives upon her arrival, Sadhvi Pragya described the recent court judgement exonerating her and six other accused persons as a clear repudiation by the court of those who sought to prove what she called the "saffron terror" conspiracy. She said she was pleased that the judicial verdict had proven her right after seventeen years of legal battle.
The ex-MP Bhopal contended that Congress party's response to the case was politically motivated and based on appeasement politics and electoral considerations. She accused the opposition party of intentionally trying to fit the incident into a "saffron terror" narrative to suit its political agenda and appeal to certain voter groups.
In her most serious allegation, Sadhvi Pragya accused the Congress of engaging in treasonous activities through its handling of the case. She claimed that the party's actions constituted a betrayal of national interests and suggested that appropriate legal action should be pursued against Congress leadership for these alleged offenses.
Also read: Malegaon blast: Pragya Thakur claims she was coerced to name Modi, Yogi in custody
The religious leader explained in detail what she termed as systematic persecution of Hindu people during the investigation process. She claimed that Congress-led authorities targeted members of the Hindu community deliberately, bringing false cases against them and subjecting them to different types of harassment as part of a larger political strategy.
Referring to the sad event itself, Sadhvi Pragya alluded to the September 29, 2008 Malegaon blast killing six people and injuring around 100. The blast, triggered by an explosive device on a motorcycle, happened in a Muslim-dominated area, resulting in increased communal tensions back then.
The case received national attention when law enforcement agents arrested a number of individuals who were linked to Hindu right-wing groups, and some leaders of Congress brought the term "saffron terror" into the public vocabulary. This interpretation implied that Hindu extremist organisations were a major terrorist threat, a description that became a focal point of political debate.
In the past, there was a trial held at a special National Investigation Agency court last month where it acquitted all seven accused persons after finding that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Pragya utilised her Bhopal visit to assert vindication for her long-held claims of innocence. She termed the acquittal a victory of truth and justice against what she defined as spurious charges and political intrigue.
In the most serious of claims, the ex-MP accused investigating agencies of torturing and intimidating her in efforts to implicate high-profile political leaders. She specifically accused investigators of coercing her into making false claims against incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
In her own testimony, Sadhvi Pragya reported that she had defied these purported efforts to get her to make spurious charges against senior BJP leaders. She asserted that refusing to collaborate with what she termed as attempts to falsely incriminate others led to increased harassment and ill-treatment while she was in custody.
The religious leader, who entered politics initially through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, described her ordeal as part of a larger trend of ganging up against Hindu activists and organisations.
Her words in Bhopal capture the ongoing political implications of the Malegaon case, a source of bitter controversy in Indian politics for more than a decade and a half. The case has been invoked by different political parties to validate different accounts of terrorism, communalism, and police practice in India.
The warm welcome given to Sadhvi Pragya in Bhopal reflects the ongoing popular base she retains within sections of the Hindu nationalist movement, even as controversies have dogged her career. Her return to the public spotlight after acquittal may indicate that she means to revive an active role in political debates and organisational politics.
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