Bhopal: Sadhvi files papers, links Hindutva with development

BJP Lok Sabha nominee from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur Tuesday "formally" filed her nomination papers after taking out a roadshow, a day after police registered an FIR over her remarks on the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Addressing a gathering before embarking on the roadshow at Bhawani Chowk, Thakur targeted the Congress and her Bhopal opponent Digvijaya Singh's reported remark that the word Hindutva does not exist in his dictionary.

Linking Hindutva with prosperity and peace, the 48- year-old right-wing activist, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case now on bail, said her main agenda is development.

Meanwhile, during the roadshow from Bhavani Chowk to the district collector's office, Thakur was shown a black flag by a youth, who was taken into custody by police.

BJP leaders and seers took part in the procession which culminated at the collectorate after covering a distance of 2 kms.

A day before "formally" submitting her nomination papers, Thakur had filed her nomination papers Monday, which she believed was an "auspicious time" for her.

Meanwhile, in what appears to be the 'plan B' in the event of Thakur's nomination getting rejected during scrutiny by poll officials, outgoing Bhopal BJP MP Alok Sanjar filed his nomination as a 'dummy' candidate from Bhopal earlier in the day "on directives of party leadership".

The provision of 'dummy' candidate is put in place to ensure that a party doesn't lose its representation from a seat in case the nomination of the official candidate gets cancelled or declared invalid.

Addressing the gathering, Thakur slammed Congress and Singh.

"There is no Hindutva in their life and there is a direct evidence of it. If they were Hindus then they would have not tortured us.

"If they were Hindus then they would not have divided us. If they were Hindus, then no woman would have suffered. If they were Hindus then the society would not have got divided and the country would have remained secured," she said.

Thakur attacked Singh, a former chief minister, over his reported remarks on Hindutva.

"He (Digvijaya) had said himself that they didn't have Hindutva in them. He had also said that Hindutva does not exist in their dictionary," the 48-year-old said.

Thakur, a resident of Bhind district, said Hindutva means development, prosperity and world peace.

Stressing that development is her main agenda, she claimed no progress took place in Madhya Pradesh when Singh was the chief minister for 10 years (1993--2003).

Singh's rule was known as 'bantadhar' (spoilsport), she said.

Thakur said the Congress's claim of protecting women was false. "I am an example of their atrocities," she added.

"They (Congress leaders) described Hindutva as 'bhagva' (saffron) terrorism. They even divided the national tricolour on the basis of its colours," she alleged.

Seeking to draw a parallel between herself and Union minister and former chief minister Uma Bharti, Thakur said, "A sadhvi had defeated Digvijaya Singh in 2003 in such a manner that he was unable to raise his head for 16 years. He will face a sadhvi again from Bhopal this time."