Reflecting on Pragya Thakur’s controversial remarks about late ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday, 19 April, said that the Malegaon blast accused and latest BJP affiliate is well within her rights to express her “personal views”.
Raut, however, said that her choice of words about Karkare was not right and did not go with the cultural ethos of the nation.
“Hemant Karkare is no more. To speak ill of him after his demise... this is against our culture. Even though, this (Pragya’s claim) might be correct... and it is. Pragya and Colonel Purohit were, in fact, tortured,” Raut said.
He added that the poor choice of words will also reflect badly on the BJP.
“She should not say such things publicly. She is not just Sadhvi anymore, she represents the BJP now. There is a protocol in place and she must adhere to it,” he added.
Speaking on BJP’s decision to take Pragya onboard, and her contesting elections against Congress’ Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal, Raut said: “India’s democracy is very liberal. Everyone, who hasn’t been barred, has a right to contest elections. Sadhvi Pragya has not been barred... neither have the charges against her been proven. It’s her democratic right to contest.”
The Shiv Sena leader also added that the investigations into the Malegaon blast case were, prima facie, conducted under pressure “to frame Hindus on terror charges”.
Pragya ‘Takes Back’ Remarks
Meanwhile, after a massive backlash, Pragya said on Friday that she takes back her words against 26/11 martyr and former ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was killed in action.
“I felt that the enemies of the country were being benefited from it, therefore I take back my statement and apologise for it, it was my personal pain.”Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, BJP’s Bhopal Candidate
Addressing BJP workers at a rally in Bhopal on Thursday night, Pragya had said Karkare was killed by terrorists because he had jailed her despite her innocence.
Thakur said she had cursed Karkare for allegedly framing her, and that was what led to his killing by terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai attack.
(With inputs from Rounak Kukde)
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