Amit Shah defends Sadhvi Pragya, asserts nothing wrong in fielding her

Even as the nomination of Sadhvi Pragya, a prime accused in the Malegaon blasts as a Lok Sabha candidate of the BJP from Bhopal and her controversial statements against ex-DGP Hemant Karkare have created a furore among the public, BJP national president Amit Shah on Monday (April 22) has defended the party’s candidate saying all allegations against her are false.

Addressing a media conference here, Shah said the allegations against Sadhvi Pragya are false and the real culprits in the Malegaon blast case have evaded the law.

Sadhvi Pragya, who is out on bail in the Malegaon blast case of 2008, has been fielded by the BJP from Bhopal constituency. “It is absolutely a right decision. The allegations against her are baseless. Nothing against her or Swami Aseemanad have been proved,” Shah told media.

Claiming that the “real culprits” were let off after being arrested, he said, questions should be asked why they were released. Speaking on the contentious NRC and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Shah said refugees need not worry as after returning to power, the BJP will first bring the bill in Parliament and then implement the NRC across the country to weed out infiltrators.

“The refugees will be given citizenship and they will remain in this country with full dignity. They should not pay heed to the misleading statements by Mamata Banerjee,” the BJP president said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 but was not tabled in Rajya Sabha where the BJP does not have majority. The picture of Rajya Sabha will change in favour of the BJP by 2020 and there will be no problem in passing the bill, he said.

To a question on alleged discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in Congress president Rahul Gandhis poll affidavit filed at Amethi, Shah said the returning officer concerned should look into it.

Asked if the BJP will seek support from the Trinamool Congress in case it falls short of majority, he said, “The question does not arise. We will get full majority.” Reiterating his charge that “democracy has ceased to exist in West Bengal”, Shah exuded confidence that people of the state will defeat the Trinamool Congress in this election.

Sadhvi Pragya recently courted controversy after she said that former Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks after she cursed him for treating her badly while she was in custody in the Malegaon blast case.

Distancing itself from Pragya’s statement the BJP had said that it was “personal” and was said probably due to the “mental and physical torture” she underwent during the investigation of the case.

(With inputs from agencies)