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Key Points

Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh denounced the term "Bhagwa Atankwad" while maintaining opposition to Pragya Thakur over her Godse admiration. He connected her Malegaon blast acquittal to BJP's decision to drop her as 2024 candidate. The remarks revisit the bitter 2019 Bhopal contest where Thakur defeated his father Digvijaya Singh. The Mumbai court cleared all accused citing insufficient evidence in the 2008 blast case.

Key Points: Digvijaya Singh's son Jaivardhan condemns Bhagwa Atankwad term

  • Jaivardhan Singh opposes term "Bhagwa Atankwad" but condemns Pragya Thakur's Godse support
  • Links Malegaon blast acquittal to BJP's 2024 sidelining of Thakur
  • References PM Modi's past reprimand of Thakur's Gandhi remarks
  • Highlights 2019 Digvijaya-Pragya Bhopal electoral rivalry
3 min read

Use of 'Bhagwa Atankwad' is wrong: Digvijaya Singh's son

Jaivardhan Singh criticizes "Bhagwa Atankwad" rhetoric but rejects Pragya Thakur over Godse praise after Malegaon blast acquittal.

"Pragya Singh praised Nathuram Godse... no one in civilized society will accept her – Jaivardhan Singh"

Bhopal, July 31

Jaivardhan Singh, son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, said on Thursday that using the terms like “Bhagwa Atankwad” is wrong, but there is no place for those who support Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse.

Former minister Jaivardhan Singh, who is MLA from his family bastion Raghogarh in Rajgarh district, made these remarks while responding to the acquittal of ex-BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and six others in the 17-year-old Malegaon blast case in Maharashtra, in which six people were killed in 2008.

"I personally believe that using the word 'Bhagwa' is completely wrong. I haven't read the court's judgment yet, but I would welcome the court's verdict," Jaivardhan Singh said.

He further stated that Pragya Singh Thakur may have been acquitted in the Malegaon blast case, but the people in a civilised society won't accept her because she supports Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse.

"Pragya Singh has praised Nathuram Godse several times at different occasions; therefore, even if she has been acquitted, we won't accept her, and no one in a civilised society will accept her," Jaivardhan added.

When reporters reminded him that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already warned Pragya Singh Thakur for her alleged derogatory remarks on Mahatma Gandhi, and she was denied a Lok Sabha ticket from Bhopal in 2024, Jaivardhan said, "Then I would urge BJP friends also to stop praying for her (Pragya Thakur)".

Notably, Pragya Singh Thakur had won the Lok Sabha from Bhopal in 2019 against Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh.

Digvijaya Singh was among those Congress leaders to use words like 'Bhagwa' Atankwad' and "RSS bomb-making factory" after the Malegaon blast had happened, and Thakur was arrested.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Bhopal, the BJP had then presented Digvijaya Singh as anti-Hindu for his words "Bhagwa Atankwad" and Pragya Singh Thakur, despite being an accused then had won the election.

In 2024, the BJP, however, sidelined Thakur for his relentless, controversial remarks on Mahatma Gandhi and replaced her with Alok Sharma.

Digvijaya Singh also chose to contest the Lok Sabha from his home district, Rajgarh, but he lost again.

The Mumbai court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the Malegaon blast case, including Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, citing a lack of sufficient evidence under charges filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Court has given its verdict after 17 years, we must respect it. But the real issue is - why do we keep giving platforms to controversial figures? Our politics needs to rise above these petty issues and focus on development.
A
Amit K
Hypocrisy ki bhi seema hoti hai! First Digvijaya ji uses such terms, now his son says it's wrong. Political families should stop playing with people's sentiments for votes. Sabko pata hai ye sab drama hai election ke liye.
S
Shweta Y
As a law student, I'm happy the court followed due process. But as an Indian, I'm disturbed how someone praising Godse got elected in the first place! We need better political awareness among voters. #JusticeForGandhi
V
Vikram M
The real issue is not about any particular color or ideology. It's about maintaining dignity in public discourse. Both sides need to stop using inflammatory language and focus on real issues like unemployment and inflation.
N
Nisha Z
Bhagwa is sacred for millions of Hindus. Using it with terrorism is unacceptable. But equally unacceptable is glorifying Godse. Why can't we have leaders who respect both our traditions AND our freedom fighters? 😔

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