Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur received a grand reception in Bhopal as she returned to the city for the first time after being acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case. The former BJP MP from Bhopal, speaking to the media, accused the Congress party of orchestrating a political conspiracy to defame Hindus by falsely branding the incident as an act of “saffron terror.” She claimed that Congress used the case to further its appeasement politics and demanded that the party be tried for treason.
The 2008 Malegaon blast, which killed six people and injured around 100 in a Muslim-majority town in Maharashtra, led to the arrest of several individuals associated with Hindu right-wing groups, including Pragya Thakur. Over time, the case became politically charged, with the term “saffron terror” gaining traction in public discourse, particularly among some Congress leaders. However, after 17 years, a special NIA court acquitted all seven accused, citing a lack of conclusive evidence.
Thakur, in her public statements, expressed vindication and said that the court's decision reaffirmed the truth and exposed those who, according to her, maligned the image of Hindutva for political gain. She described the verdict as a blow to “anti-nationals” and a moral victory for her and others who were accused.
She also made a serious allegation against investigators, claiming she was tortured during the probe and pressured to falsely name senior BJP leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. She stated that despite the pressure, she refused to comply, which led to further mistreatment during her custody.
Pragya, who began her political journey through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), reiterated her commitment to Hindutva ideology and portrayed the legal victory as a triumph of dharma and truth. The remarks come amid renewed political debate over the use of terror-related charges and the broader implications of long-drawn-out trials that span decades.
