Malegaon: Uma speaks in Sadhvi Pragya's favour

Defending Malegaon blast-accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Bharatiya Jan Shakti (BJS) founder-president and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti today said such allegations were being made to defame Hindu outfits.

''The Sadhvi is not a violent-minded person and she was an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist. She cannot be involved in any subversive activity,'' the former Union minister told mediapersons here.

''If the Sadhvi is found guilty then I will condemn her but I will move the court on her behalf if she was not involved in violence,'' the BJS chief said.

Ms Bharti alleged that some international organisations were attempting to tarnish the image of Hindu organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, ABVP, Bajrang Dal and others by linking their names with terrorism in a pre-planned manner.

''A person cannot be termed a culprit merely by levelling charges but by proving them and Sadhvi Pragya should be provided a chance for a clarification,'' Ms Bharti said while pointing out that some outsiders were intruding into Sangh Parivar fold to defame Hindu organisations and urged monitoring to prevent entry of such elements.

The ex-chief minister also held the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responsible for disowning Sadhvi Pragya and said party President Rajnath Singh should come forward to defend her.

She also alleged that the BJP always politicised religious issues but dumped those after the party interest was served. The BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee L K Advani undertook a rath yatra on the Ayodhya issue but apologised soon after the disputed structure at Ayodhya was demolished.

The former BJP leader Ms Bharti said, ''If Hindus are found guilty for the Malegaon incident then there should be introspection about such intolerance on part of Hindus who are considered a patient and tolerant community for ages.'' Pragya Singh Thakur alias Sadhvi Purna Chetanand Giri, a Hindu Jagran Manch activist, and two others were arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday for their alleged involvement in the September 19 Malegaon blast that claimed 29 lives and injured 30.

-- (UNI) -- 26DR63.xml

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