New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh has stepped in to ensure that one of its proteges, terror accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, does not cause further embarrassment to the BJP. The Sangh has decided to appoint a new team of advisors and associates to assist the Bhopal MP with her Parliamentary work while throwing out her old coterie.
The move comes on the back of Thakur’s dismal performance in the 54-day Budget Session of Parliament. She didn’t ask any question regarding her constituency during Question Hour and raised just four issues during Zero Hour, none of which had to do with Bhopal.
In fact, she was reprimanded by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on one of the issues she raised — Thakur had objected, during Zero Hour, to MPs smoking inside the Parliament premises prompting Birla to tell her that the session was for issues related to public interest. He then asked Thakur to meet him in person to discuss the smoking issue.
Sources told ThePrint that the new team will assist Thakur in her Parliamentary work such as preparing questions and advising her on the issues to be raised in the House. The new inner circle will completely comprise RSS members, they said. The team will also ensure that Thakur does not make unwanted statements, for which she had landed in controversies more than once during the Lok Sabha election campaign.
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‘Focus will be on the development of Bhopal’
A reliable source told ThePrint that both the RSS and the BJP are disappointed by Thakur’s Lok Sabha performance and now want her to focus on issues related to the development of Bhopal. The new team will help Thakur raise the demands of people in the right fora while she is also expected to meet central cabinet ministers and talk with them about issues concerning her constituency.
Thakur has been associated with the RSS from the very beginning of her career. She was in fact handpicked by the Sangh to take on former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh at Bhopal.
The RSS had sought a candidate belonging to its ideological core who is also capable of constantly attacking Singh. Even if Digvijay Singh had contested from his home constituency of Raghogarh instead of Bhopal, the RSS would have likely fielded Pragya Thakur against him.
The rationale in the Sangh was that such a candidate would effectively counter claims by Congress leaders such as Singh on the issue of Hindu terrorism and the Malegaon bomb blast.
Worried about giving the opposition fodder to attack her over her lacklustre performance in the Lok Sabha, the RSS is now overhauling the staff attached with her.
As of now, Thakur is assisted by her elder sister Upma and an associate Kalpana, who accompanies her all the time, whether in Delhi or Bhopal.
“Sadhvi Pragya is unwell these days. The issues she will raise in the forthcoming session are discussed by her team in detail continuously,” Kalpana told ThePrint.
On changes to Thakur’s team, Kalpana said, “People leaving the team and new people joining the team is part of a process. Who is involved in making these decisions, who will come and go, is not something I am privy to.”
The duo is under the scanner themselves as they had been helping with her parliamentary duties too. Since both have very little knowledge of parliamentary procedures and practice, Sadhvi’s performance suffered. Sources said that this is a reason that the Sangh wants to give her a new team.
The changes are already underway.
Thakur had appointed a researcher, Pushparaj, to take care of her parliamentary research work. He has been removed now.
Also gone is Umesh Srivastava, Thakur’s long-time personal security officer and who used to also keep her calendar.
An important member of Thakur’s team, who did not wish to be named, told ThePrint, “Changes are being made to her team. Now from parliamentary questions to her statements — everything will be monitored so that Sadhvi doesn’t get embroiled in any controversy.”
Purushottam Namdev, who works in Thakur’s Bhopal office, said he was recently appointed. “I do not know who does what in the Delhi and Bhopal office (of Pragya),” he said.
Courting controversy
Since the BJP fielded her from Bhopal during the Lok Sabha elections, Thakur has been embroiled in a slew of controversies. During the election campaign, she had certified Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, as a true patriot.
She then controversially targetted former Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) head Hemant Karkare who was killed while facing the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.
Pragya had said she had cursed Karkare while he was interrogating her for her alleged involvement in the Malegaon blast case. She had also received an Election Commission notice for saying that she was proud of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya and calling for a grand Ram temple at the disputed site.
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What Sadvi told is naked truth which none is able to tell due to vote bank politics and fear.
Secretly I enquired with my fellow colleagues who actually concured her view but not in open.
All the comments against Sadvi are by hypocratics.Shastry
Today this is my INDIA for whose Independence thousands of people ( except BJP and RSS) sacrificed themselves. Today a TERRORIST , a killer of 168 innocent Muslims has become a Member of Parliament and started spreading Hate in the Society. This is nothing but highest Bad Luck of a Democracy.
Now so called dharm ki rajniti has no essence before indian public ….it’s new era here practicality seems…u cannot fool people on regular basis..we public can remove her designation as mp even from BJP by protesting her attitude toward politics
She should be removed from the BJP.
Mr. Raju kusala comments are un unwarranted. Till the juduciary declares done one as criminal.,he can not name her. In which case I can also call him a master mind of cc
What kind of report card you expect from a terrorist
Sad case she should not have been given ticket. Having said that this is a fall out of the negative politics from congress and some Muslims. We have had sectarian politics since 1933 .it’s difficult for Hindus not to get affected and behave they way they have. Sad but true
She is immature with zero experience. She would have had a traumatic life during her jail term and possibly that is hitting her. She cannot survive on her own without the support of BJP and RSS. Similarly, think about Rahul Gandhi. Even after so many terms as MP the kid is still learning. And also think about his own capabilities, which we have seen recently. Without dynasty, he is a big zero.
She is a Terrorist , killer of 168 innocent people. Her Cases of Bomb Blasts were investigated by 3 Top Agencies Bombay Anti-Terrorist Squad , CBI and NIA. Finally NIA has Filed Chargesheet against her. If any Agency has done wrong then Amit Shah should Dismiss all the Officers to prove that she is innocent and falsely implicated.
Actualy it is not the mistake of saduwi Thakur,hon,ble MP,Main culprit are those people who elected her and offered her party ticket.More than that what we can expect from her, just seating at mandir,that too having issue can do any dynamic devlopment plan for her constutency,only UPARWALA can say ….
She is anything but a so called ‘sadhvi’. Eventually nothing will happen as she is well looked after by the lotus and saffron members.
PRAGYA means wisdom! There seems to be a dearth of it!
Shameful in India such criminals are allowed to contest elections. They are not educated and their minds are rotten. How can we tolerate such politicians. What about Bhopal she should be put in prison.
When after so many years as Parliamentarian, RaGa is being still tutored by his accolades then in comparison Pragya is naive and first time MP only….
While ThePrint team is evaluating the performance of hardcore Hindu ideologue, hope you will also do the same with Owaisi Brother’ outside the Parliament….