Hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named Malegaon Blast Accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur from Bhopal Lok Sabha Seat, the father of one the victim of the blast moved to the Special Court seeking direction to bar her from Contesting. Sadhvi has been named by the BJP on Wednesday against the Congress Stalwart Digvijay Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha Seat.
Special Judge VS Padalkar has asked the National Investigation Agency and the Accused Pragya Thakur to file response on the plea. The Special Court posted the matter for April 23 for further hearing in the case.
The father of the victim, Nisar Sayeed had lost his son in the 2006 Malegaon Blast in Maharashtra claimed lives of other 5 and many others injured. The petition filed by Sayeed stated that she is out on a bail citing health issues if she can contest the polls and then she has misled the court to get a bail.
Sadhvi Pragya has been charged in the Malegaon Blast. She is currently out on a bail in the case.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has been associated with Bharatiya Janata Party’s student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and ‘Durga Vahini’ or women’s wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
It should be noted that the Court had dropped provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Sadhvi Pragya, but she is being tried under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
While in other development, Congress Leader Tehseen Poonawalla filed a complaint with Election Commission against the candidature of Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal Parliamentary constituency by BJP. Congress Leader requested Poll Commission to debar her from contesting elections as she is a terror accused.
Tehseen Poonawalla files complaint with Election Commission against candidature of Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal Parliamentary constituency by BJP for #LokSabhaElections2019 ; "requests EC to debar her from contesting elections as she is a terror accused". pic.twitter.com/hCyfeSgFnX
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2019
Soon after the announcement of Sadhvi Pragya’s candidature from Bhopal, Opposition Leaders criticized Bharatiya Janata Party for the move. Reacting on the development, NC Working President Omar Abdullah had on Thursday said, ‘BJP has given ticket (from Bhopal) to a candidate who is not only an accused in a terror case but is also out on bail on health grounds. If her health condition doesn’t permit her to be in jail, how does it permit her to contest polls?’
Bharatiya Janata Party’s move to file Sadhvi Pragya is seen as an attempt to polarize the polls on Bhopal parliamentary Seat where she will be facing Congress Stalwart Digvijay Singh.
Bhopal Lok Sabha Seat is considered as a stronghold of the saffron party. BJP had held the seat 8 times since 1989, Congress had last won an election in 1984 on the seat. BJP’s Alok Sanjar is the sitting MP from the seat.
ALSO READ:
- Lok Sabha Polls 2019: BJP writes to EC in Karnataka; alleges Mass ‘Indiscriminate’ Voters Deletion
- Lok Sabha Polls 2019: BSP Candidate Rajveer Singh files nomination from Delhi North East Seat
- Lok Sabha Polls 2019: JJP’s Dushyant Chautala to seek re-election from Hisar; releases first list