Pragya Thakur

Former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Sunday said the special court's verdict acquitting her in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case was a victory of Hindutva and a "slap on the face" of people who coined the term "saffron terror". The special court on July 31 acquitted Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and five others in the case, noting that the prosecution had not adduced cogent and reliable evidence to warrant conviction and prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Six people were killed and 101 were injured in the blast in Maharashtra's Nashik district on September 29, 2008. Speaking to reporters at the Raja Bhoj International Airport on her arrival in the city, Thakur said, "This is a victory of Hindutva and religion, a victory of saffron. Our scriptures say 'Satyamev Jayate' (truth alone triumphs), and it has been proved. Those who spoke of saffron terror have been shamed." The society and the country have given a befitting reply to those who coined the term saffron terror, she sai

A special NIA court acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, citing lack of evidence and probe lapses; the blast killed six and injured over 100 near a mosque during Ramzan

Acquitting ex-BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Special Judge AK Lahoti noted that the evidence presented was not reliable enough to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt

The special NIA court on Saturday reserved the Malegaon blast case for verdict following completion of trial almost 17 years after it shook the communally sensitive town in Maharashtra's Nashik district. Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008. The prosecution on Saturday filed its final written arguments, with some citation marking the end of hearing in the case, after which special judge A K Lahoti adjourned the case to May 8 for judgement. During the course of trial the prosecution had examined 323 prosecution witnesses, of which 34 had turned hostile. Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, BJP leader Pragya Thakur- Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are facing trial under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was initially

BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur has accused her party legislator Sudesh Rai was running a liquor shop illegally in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district and expressed concern over the safety of women and girls. She has also demanded Rai's removal from the MLA's post. When contacted, Rai told the mediapersons to themselves inquire into Thakur's allegations. Thakur, who has been denied renomination from Bhopal for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, on Monday night said she was on a visit to areas under her constituency to launch development works when some girls came to her at Khajuria Kala and complained a liquor outlet was being run in front of their school. "The girls were sad and teary-eyed, they complained that people gather at the liquor shop, make comments on them. They told me they are not safe and anything can happen to them. Some women said people enter their houses after consuming liquor," the BJP leader added. She claimed a police sub-inspector who was present th

Thakur said, "BJP has got votes for the respect of women, the safety of the country, culture, development and prosperity of the nation, national security, religious security and welfare of the nation"

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving rise to a "depraved social and political culture" which was manifest in the behaviour of BJP parliamentarians. The former Bihar chief minister, who was also a member of the Manmohan Singh cabinet. came out with the statement in Hindi in the social media. "The Prime Minister has given rise to a depraved (vikrit) social and political culture in which one of his MPs glorifies the terrorist who assassinated Father of Nation Gandhi ji," he wrote without taking any names. The allusion was apparently to Bhopal MP Pragya Thakur, who had called Nathu Ram Godse a "patriot", only to retract later under mounting public criticism. Prasad, who is a key figure in the opposition INDIA coalition, alleged "A BJP MP, (apparently) under instructions of the PM, made inappropriate, petty and unparliamentary remarks against an opposition MP. This is objectionable, deplorable and a cause of concern for society and democrac

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"Public knows what is good.. what is right," Pragya added

The letter referred to media reports that, on December 25, 2022, while addressing a gathering of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike's South Region annual convention in Shivamogga, Karnataka

Poonawalla had lodged a complaint against the BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh in connection with an alleged blasphemous speech against the minority community during her recent visit to Karnataka

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks at a function in Karnataka's Shivamogga are a clear example of hate speech and he would move the Supreme Court against her. Ramesh said he would file a case against Thakur in the apex court as the police in Karnataka would not act against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP. Karnataka is currently being ruled by the BJP and the Assembly polls are due in the state early next year. "BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks made in Karnataka are a clear example of hate speech and I would be moving the Supreme Court against her for making such remarks," the former Union minister told PTI. He said Thakur's remarks clearly seek to divide the society, while claiming that the local police would not act against her since the BJP is in power in the southern state. Thakur said Hindus have the right to respond to those who attack them and their dignity as she spoke about the killing of Hindu activists. She also cal

The complainant stated that Pragya Singh's speech is an open call for use of arms against the minority community

Madhya Pradesh Congress has demanded that a case of treason be registered against Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha member Pragya Singh Thakur for her keep weapon at home remark, while her party defended the statement saying it was for women's self-defence. Thakur, while addressing a programme in Shivamogga (Karnataka) on Sunday, said Hindus have the right to respond to those who attack them and their dignity, as she spoke about the killing of Hindu activists. The parliamentarian from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh had also called on the community to at least keep the knives in their homes sharp, as everyone has the right to protect themselves. Madhya Pradesh Congress media department's chairman KK Mishra told PTI that the Centre should now take action by registering a case for treason as Thakur "incited people for violence". "She is now talking about a knife after holding a bomb in her hands. The acts of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Thakur are alike," he claimed. Thakur is

BJP's Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, appeared before a special NIA court here on Wednesday. She appeared before special judge P R Sitre, hearing cases related to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Thakur's lawyer said that although the court had not summoned the MP, she appeared on her own as she was in Mumbai for her medical treatment. The BJP leader had last appeared before the court in the case in January this year. Seven persons, including Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, are facing trial in the case. A total of eight witnesses have turned hostile in the case so far. Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon town in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. According to police, the motorbike was registered in Thakur's name and that led to her arrest in 2008. The Bombay High Court had granted bail to her in 2017. She is being tried under th

BJP leader and Bhopal MP Pragya Thakur, who had obtained bail in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on medical grounds, is purportedly seen playing kabaddi in a viral video

Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bhopal, on Tuesday dismissed the talk about rise in the prices of petrol and diesel and inflation as nothing, but a "propaganda" on part of the Congress. She was speaking at a function of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation where Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan virtually inaugurated a pump house as well as flagged off new civic buses. "Jo yeh log propaganda karte hai ki diesel mahanga, petrol mahanga. Ye mahangai kuchh aur nahi hai, ye Congressiyon ki mansikta hai, fokat ka propaganda hai (These people spread propaganda that diesel and petrol have become expensive. This inflation is nothing else but the mindset of the Congress and merely propaganda), Thakur said. During her address at the event, she also hailed the CM for introducing pollution-free vehicles in the state capital, reminiscing that earlier handkerchiefs used to cover the face during autorickshaw rides would get blackened with grime and dust generated durin

Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, had earlier sought an exemption from daily appearance in court on the grounds of health and security

BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and other accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case have been asked to appear before the Special NIA Court on Monday

'If all Hindu mantras are chanted together then it will result in positive energy,' says BJP lawmaker