EC bans Sadhvi Pragya for 72 hours for remarks on her curse to Hemant Karkare
New Delhi, May 1 (UNI/IBNS) The Election commission on Wednesday banned BJP Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from campaigning for 72 hours for her remarks regarding her curse to former ATS chief Hemant Karkare.
The commission barred her from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) in connection with ongoing elections for 72 hours starting 6 am on May 2, 2019.
The EC warned her not to repeat such conduct in the future.
"In light of the statements made by Sadhvi Pragya Thakur in Bhopal on April 18, 2019 at a press conference commenting on her curse given to late Hemant Karkare IPS and at Bhopal while giving interview to private TV channel on April 20, 2019 commenting on her role in demolishing Babri Masjid, the Commission has strongly condemned the impugned statements made by her and warned her not to repeat such conduct in the future," the EC order said.
"Commission has barred her from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) in connection with ongoing elections for 72 hours starting 6 AM on 2 May, 2019," it said.
After receiving flak for boasting of cursing 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur had earlier apologised and said she is "taking back her words".
"If my remarks made enemies happy, then I take my words back, and I apologise too. Our remarks shouldn't make enemies happy. The pain I went through, it can't be reversed, but terrorists killed Hemant Karkare, he certainly is a martyr," she had told news agency ANI.
"I said what I felt, party hasn't distanced itself from my remarks, they stated the right thing, that it was my personal account," Sadhvi Pragya had said.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, the 2008 Malegaon blasts accused, had triggered a controversy by saying that 26/11 hero Hemant Karkare was killed as she 'cursed' him.
Hemant passed away while fighting against terrorists on Nov 26, 2008 attack in Mumbai.
He had investigated against Sadhvi in connection with the blasts in Malegaon that year.
He was serving as the chief of Maharashtra's anti-terror squad during that period.
Sadhvi joined the BJP last month and was named as a candidate for the party.
She will contest against Congress leader Digivijaya Singh in the Bhopal.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
