CPI condemns BJP for fielding Pragya Singh Thakur in LS poll from Bhopal

New Delhi [India], Apr 20 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday strongly condemned the decision of the BJP to field 2008 Malegaon blasts case accused Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal parliamentary constituency.
The CPI alleged that Pragya’s nomination is an attempt by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP to further polarise voters in the name of religion.
“With her nomination, the RSS-BJP is out to further polarise voters in the name of religion. To say the least, the move is an immoral attempt to prove its claims that there is nothing called terror by Hindutva groups," said the party in a statement.
"The nomination of a terror accused is politically and morally wrong, and exposes the BJP of its real face,” read the statement.
Sadhvi Pragya had recently said that that former Anti-Terrorist Squad
(ATS) chief Hemant Karkare lost his life because she had cursed him.
The statement further said: “Pragya Singh’s terrorist bent of mind became clearer when on April 18 she uttered the most insulting remark against former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare.”
“BJP cannot escape its responsibility by saying that the remarks of Pragya Thakur are her personal. Modi’s declaration of his fight against terrorism has no meaning when he nominates terror accused as BJP candidate in Bhopal,” it added.
Pragya Thakur is among seven accused facing trial in Malegaon blast case. Six people were killed and a dozen others were injured after a bomb placed on a motorcycle exploded in Maharashtra’s Malegaon on September 29, 2008.
She was arrested in 2008 but was given a clean chit by the National Investigation Agency in 2015 for lack of evidence. However, the trial court refused to let her off, saying it was difficult to accept since her motorcycle was used in the blast.
Pragya had joined the BJP on Wednesday.
Several opposition leaders have slammed the BJP for fielding a terror accused in the Lok Sabha elections. She is expected to file her nomination from Bhopal on April 23. (ANI)