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Terror-accused Hindu hardliner from Modi's party heads towards big win in Indian election
Pragya Thakur, a Hindu ascetic accused of plotting a bomb attack on Muslims in India, defeated an opposition strongman by a big margin on Thursday as her ruling Hindu nationalist party headed towards a massive victory in the country's general election.
Thakur, contesting from the central city of Bhopal for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is the first person accused of terrorism to be fielded by a major political group in India.
Also read: Pragya Singh Thakur and the dangers of India’s emerging majoritarian democracy
Latest Election Commission data showed she had received 69 per cent more votes than her opponent, Digvijaya Singh, a two-term chief minister of Madhya Pradesh state and a senior member of the main opposition Congress party.
Final results are likely to come later in the day, but two television stations said she had won, spooking many Muslims.
“This will be a victory of religion,” Thakur, clad in her usual saffron, told reporters.
The 49-year-old — described as a pious nationalist, fiery orator and champion of women's rights by her family members — stoked a controversy this month by calling the killer of India's independence hero, Mohandas Gandhi, a patriot.
Modi said he would never be able to forgive her for the remark.
She has also boasted of her role in demolishing a mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya in 1992, which had sparked nationwide riots and killed about 2,000 people.
The BJP has said Thakur was given an election ticket “so that the whole world can know that these accusations against her were fabricated”.
Many voters said Thakur's election was more a reflection of their desire to see Modi as prime minister for another term than anything else.
“She's only popular because people are voting for Modi, otherwise people dont know her much,” said Osama Khalid, a Muslim running a lemon juice stall by a busy street.
“I had voted for Congress. Everything I have heard about Pragya Thakur is bad. She has spent time in jail.”
Thursday's victory completes Thakur's emergence to prominence alongside the rapid rise of a Hindu nationalist movement since Modi first took office in 2014, and which is showing increasing intolerance towards minority Muslims.
Thakur, who is facing charges under an anti-terrorism law for plotting a bomb attack on Muslims in 2006, said this month that the election would deliver a “fitting reply” to those calling Gandhi's killer, Nathuram Godse, a terrorist.
The BJP quickly distanced itself from the comments and Thakur later apologised.
According to court filings, Thakur had planned attacks to avenge “jihadi activities” and the motorcycle on which the explosives were strapped was Thakur's.
She denies all links to the attacks.
Comments (46) Closed
She was framed.
The best case is she gets convicted, but now it seems she will get a pass like Modi. Two bad apples together. Hindutva wins this time. A reactionary force will emerge.
Any actionable evidence?
Bright future waiting for India
@fairplay, She did not bomb in London metro.
Fantastic. We just watch, thanking the Almighty for Pakistan.
@bhaRAT, dunno, that's your job.
If you're going to have an opponent like digvijay Singh anyone can win....and in elections, one who has lots of oratory skills will be a wining candidate, apart from which party they belong to and a lot more that goes in background
What a grave, gruesome, gigantic, gross and great tragedy?
she was framed...just like a christian woman was framed in blashphamy charge in pakistan.
@harry, Indian harry, but she did plot bomb attack on Muslims in India!
this women endorsed cow urine drinking live on television and lied that her cancer went away with cows urine. imagine a nation that would choose a leader like this. serious shame
India is a country of laws. Accused does not mean convicted as guilty.
Rahul is accused in many cases including Rape of Sukanya Devi. Google and find out what happened to that poor girl and her entire family. Karma Bites. They hushed up the case when in power.
@bhaRAT,
Its you job to find out. Why ask us?
She won because she was framed, tortured for almost 10 years; and hence won on sympathy votes.
You are not guilty unless proven.......
She suffered long years of jail on suspicion and was aquitted by courts. She had to be rehabilitated. People voted for her. Had she been a terrorist no Hindu would have voted for her .
Tells a lot about the mentality of Indians.... sick.
@fairplay, who has convicted her?
These elections seem rigged. Sharif has finally passed on his old tricks to his old friend modi.
Elections rigged.
She is out on bail, isn't she?
Accused but never found guilty.
She got 69% votes more than her nearest rival
So the Indians voted for a terrorist like Pragya Thakur. What else is new.
Anybody else stood against opposition member Digvijaya Singh would have won as most people hate that guys for his stupid and non-sense comments. Accusation against her are falling like pack of cards as those were made on flimsy grounds intentionally by Congress government.
Future of India. Hardliners and intolerant politicians and their ideology.
@ fairplay ...in most rational democracie its 'innocent till proven guilty' not the other way round....
@bhaRAT©, coz u r more keen to knw. And the charges were never proved so the case is closed.
@Mawra, her motorbike was used for the bombing, she did not deny it. She wasn't framed.
The real face of Modi!
@harry, this is about terrorism in India against Muslims, she was front and center.
She was a suspect due to her speech’s but ATS has no proof.
@Boss, google to spread fake news, a common strategy by hindutva.
@Mawra, lying Indian troll. She doesn't deny the charge.
That is the true face of india under the shinning india facade...
Now those who framed her should be given tough punishment. She was framed because of Congress's dirty politics of minority appeasement.
@fairplay, Everyone who followed this case knows she was framed. I don't if she is qualified to represent us an MP. But she got a lot of sympathy votes.
@fairplay, what's ur opinion about Gen. Pervez Musharraf ?
@Mawra, You expect us to believe that? And who are the people liking your comment? Must be very deep thinkers
Congratulations, Pragya Thakur !
@Mawra, They could not charge-sheet her for the nearly nine years that she was in jail, even with all resources and agencies at their command!
Every party has abount 10% candidates with criminal charges. You are not guilty until proven.
@zunaid, India, Her statements are well present everywhere.
@Rahul,
He was better than those who came after him to rule & plunder.