M A I N   N E W S

Pragya’s arrest sparks war of words in Sangh Parivar

New Delhi, October 26
The arrest of a sadhvi in connection with the Malegaon blasts has triggered political charges and counter-charges in the Sangh Parivar with the BJP accused of disowning her.

Attacking the BJP, Bhartiya Janshakti Party chief Uma Bharti expressed “shock” that the party and its affiliated organisations were “disowning” 38-year-old Pragya Singh Thakur, the sadhvi, who is suspected to have links with right-wing Hindu Jagaran Manch.

“I am shocked and it is shameful that the BJP is disowning her and all their organisations are disowning her. When they wanted, they used her,” she said.

Bharti recalled having met Pragya in the late 90s during elections in Bhopal. “At that time, she was working for the ABVP,” she said.

Countering Bharti, BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said: “There is no question of owning or disowning her. She left the ABVP in 1995-96.” “The BJP,” he said, “has made it clear that the law must take its course, provide evidence, let the action be taken. Even her father has said if she is responsible, the action should be taken.”

Referring to the Batla House encounter in Jamia Nagar here, Prasad said: “We don’t talk about any probe about the Jamia (incident) during which a courageous police officer died. We always say take tough action against terrorism. Terrorism has no religion.” — PTI

Raids yield nothing at sadhvi’s home

Jabalpur, October 26
The Madhya Pradesh police today searched the rented house of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur here, but found nothing objectionable.

The house belongs to one Sanjeev Gupta, who also owns a bookshop near the residence, additional superintendent of police (ASP) Manish Kapooria and Gorakhpur police station in charge D.K. Dixit told mediapersons.

The police opened the house of sadhvi in the presence of Gupta, but found nothing objectionable inside. A few religious books and domestic goods were found.

During her last stay in the house, she attended meetings at Garha and Katni town during which she allegedly used derogatory language against Mahatma Gandhi and the minority community.

The police has tapes of those speeches in its record, they said. The Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad recently arrested sadhvi near Surat in connection with Malegaon and Modasa blasts. — PTI