An FIR was registered on Monday against BJP candidate from Bhopal parliamentary constituency Sadhvi Pragya Thakur for her alleged statement on the demolition of the disputed mosque at Ayodhya on Saturday, said Irshad Wali, Madhya Pradesh’s deputy inspector general (DIG) of police.
District election officer Sudam Khade directed the police to register the FIR under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for violating the model code of conduct. The FIR was lodged with Kamala Nagar police station, Bhopal by sub-divisional magistrate concerned on Monday night.
Earlier on Saturday, Khade had served a notice to Pragya Thakur after she said in a television interview that she was extremely proud over her role in the demolition of the disputed shrine at Ayodhya.
She said, “We will build Ram temple and we will build an imposing (temple). We had gone there to demolish the structure. I climbed up the structure to raze it and I feel proud of this. God had given strength to us and we removed a scar on the face of country.”
In her reply on Monday to a notice from the Election Commission on Monday, Thakur said, “I have not given any statement to create any tension among any caste, religion, community and linguistic group or hurt communal sentiments. But my statement expressed my inner voice. I always work on the principles of ‘Sarve bhavantu sukhina, Sarve santu Niramayah’. I requested to end the matter at this level only.”
But her reply cut no ice with the EC.
“Her reply is not acceptable as it is not satisfactory. Her statement is a clear violation of chapter 4 of Model code of conduct which states ‘No activity, which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different caste/communities/religious/linguistic groups shall be attempted’,” Khade said.
Congress spokesperson JP Dhanopia said, “We welcome the decision but another FIR should be registered against her for insulting the martyr former Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare.”
Asked for comments on the FIR, Pragya Thakur said, “I am busy with campaigning and my legal team is looking into the matter.”
The Election Commission has not yet taken any decision on her reply to its notice for her controversial comment that Karkare died because she had cursed him. She had sent her reply on Sunday.
Thakur is contesting the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat against DIgvijay Singh of the Congress.
