Sadhvi Pragya apt challenger for Digvijay who promoted dubious saffron terror idea, says Ram Madhav

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday (April 18) said that Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is the apt challenger for senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who promoted the “mischievous and dubious idea of saffron terror” in the country.

The BJP on Wednesday (April 17) announced the fielding of Thakur, facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress has fielded Digvijay Singh from the constituency.

Ram Madhav, speaking to ANI, asserted that the accusation of “saffron or Hindu terror” was a creation of the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

“The very accusation of saffron terror, Hindu terror was itself a creation of the UPA government. There was no such thing existing at that time and not even now. Some people were wrongfully jailed and false cases were set against them. The courts are looking into them. Nobody can question us on the constitutional validity of fielding a candidate who has allegations against her,” Ram Madhav said.

The BJP leader said the decision to field Sadhvi Pragya against Digvijay Singh was taken by the party’s Madhya Pradesh unit.

“The decision was taken by the Madhya Pradesh unit. She [Sadhvi Pragya] is probably the right challenger for a person like Digvijay Singh who is largely responsible for propagating the dubious and mischievous idea of Hindu terror in this country. He needs a proper challenge that is why Pragya Thakur was fielded by the party,” Ram Madhav said.

Attacking National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti for objecting to Pragya Thakur’s candidature, Madhav said, “There are certain laws that guide process for who can file nominations. The EC [Election Commission] will continue to look into these matters and nobody can just go and ask for a person to be banned from contesting elections.”

“People like Mehbooba Mufti have concerns only for terrorists and militants, not for citizens of the country. You can see how much she is bothered about how terrorists are treated. Such people’s criticism has no meaning,” the BJP’s general secretary said.

Backing defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s theory that the Congress might be plotting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Ram Madhav said, “Better that Imran Khan keeps off Indian elections.”

“Who will be the prime minister of India will be decided by the people of India. We are wise enough; we don’t need advisers from across the border. When we come back to power, we know how to deal with our neighbours. We don’t need advisers or suggestions from across the border,” Ram Madhav said.

Nirmala Sitharaman had told ANI that she believes that Imran Khan’s statement on peace talks between the neighbours and resolution to the Kashmir issue would be a possibility, if BJP is voted back to power, as merely a ploy by the Congress to oust Prime Minister Modi-led government.

Responding to a question on whether there is a deliberate attempt to politicise the country’s armed forces, Ram Madhav said, “We are doing so. It is the opposition which is trying to gain political or electoral mileage by invoking the Balakot issue and raising doubts about our Army’s actions.

“They are not questioning the government but the very credentials of the Army itself,” Ram Madhav said.