Latest news with #Pragya
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Hans India
Flawed from the start: Malegaon acquittals shatter ATS probe and Hindu terror claim
Mumbai: From the year 2011 onwards, when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the Malegaon blast case, serious lacunae were found in the previous investigation. On Thursday, the court acquitted all seven accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit, after a long-winding trial that began nearly 15 years ago. The 2008 Malegaon blast became a major controversy during its investigation, as it led to the emergence of terms like 'Hindu terror' or 'Saffron terror' in the Indian political and media discourse. It also went on to become a major political slugfest, and many in the media had painted Sadhvi Pragya and Lieutenant Colonel Purohit as the so-called faces of Hindu terror. On July 31, the NIA court, while delivering its verdict, held that mere suspicion could not carry the weight of a conviction. It also noted that there was no evidence to prove that Purohit had procured the RDX or assembled the bomb. The court further said that Thakur was not the owner of the motorcycle that was used in the blast. The Maharashtra ATS probed the case at first, but it was handed over to the NIA in the year 2011. The NIA found serious lapses in the probe by the ATS. As the investigations progressed, the NIA dropped charges under MCOCA, while stating that confessions recorded under this law are inadmissible. The NIA probe also learnt that the motorcycle that was registered in the name of Pragya had been with another accused well before the blast took place. A lot began to change when the Bombay High Court granted Pragya bail, citing a lack of evidence. In the same year, the Supreme Court released Lt Col Purohit. In 2018, the NIA court framed fresh charges. However, as the trial took place, 300 witnesses were examined, and many turned hostile. This further weakened the case of the prosecution. Following the blast, the Maharashtra ATS, led by Hemant Karkare, said that the motorcycle used in the attack belonged to Pragya Thakur. The bike's registration number was fake, and its engine and chassis numbers had been filed off. However, the forensics lab restored the erased identity of the bike and linked it back to Pragya. The ATS then went on to link Lt. Col. Purohit to a little-known or unknown organisation known as Abhinav Bharat. The ATS then went on to claim that the group had conspired to target Muslims and went on to charge the accused under various sections of the IPC, UAPA, and MCOCA. In a mammoth charge sheet that ran into over 4,000 pages, the ATS said that the Abhinav Bharat was an organised crime syndicate. It was for the first time that investigators spoke about right-wing Hindus as perpetrators of terror. This led to more debate about who may have carried out the blasts at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, and also the Samjautha blasts. Some had even tried to spread the narrative that the same group may have played a hand in the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. In August 2010, then Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, told the Intelligence officials that saffron terror was a phenomenon that had been implicated in several bombings. His successor, Sushil Kumar Shinde, three years later, declared that the RSS and BJP are running terror training camps. This issue even caught the attention of the international community. In 2010, WikiLeaks made public a secret communication to Washington by the then-Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer. He spoke about a July 20, 2009, conversation with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He detailed how Rahul Gandhi had told him that radicalised Hindu groups were a bigger danger than Islamist terrorist groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Even the then National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan spoke about Hindu extremist groups with the FBI director Robert Mueller. Earlier on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha that he is proud to declare to the world and the people of India that a Hindu can never be a terrorist. The NIA court finally called out the Congress bogey of Hindu terror or saffron terror on Thursday. The case was a controversial one since day one. One of the first proponents of the term Hindu terror was Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who called the RSS a bomb making factory. These statements led to a political slugfest and changed the narrative relating to terrorism in India.
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sangh Parivar's stormy petrel Pragya Thakur: Godse praise, Hemant Karkare remark to Bhopal giant-killer
A special court in Mumbai Thursday acquitted all the seven persons accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, including former BJP MP from Bhopal, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. A resident of Madhya Pradesh, Pragya, 55, who started her political innings with the ABVP, the RSS' student wing, was the prime accused in the Malegaon case and the first person whom the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) had arrested. A Sangh Parivar firebrand, Pragya has been no stranger to controversy, who has often made news due to her various moves and statements. In December 2022, Pragya set off a major row after, referring to the murder of a Bajarang Dal activist in Shivamogga, she said at an event in Karnataka: 'Keep weapons in your homes. At least keep the knives used to cut vegetables sharp … Just like how knives cut the vegetables, it will also chop the mouth and heads.' Thakur had run into trouble with her party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the past over her controversial remarks. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, after the party fielded her from Bhopal against Congress heavyweight Digvijaya Singh despite being booked in the Malegaon case, Pragya compared Ashok Chakra awardee and former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare with Ravan and Kans and said he was killed during 26/11 Mumbai attacks because he was cursed for arresting her in connection with the Malegaon case. In a public meeting, Thakur said she had warned Karkare that he would be destroyed and that was exactly what happened. While she was roundly criticised at the time — the Election Commission (EC) sent her a show-cause notice — the BJP distanced itself from her remarks and claimed it had always considered Karkare a martyr. 'The BJP considers him (Karkare) a martyr. This is Sadhvi Pragya's personal statement which she might have given because of the mental and physical torture she had faced,' the party statement said. In a subsequent television interview, PM Modi alleged that the Congress had defamed a '5,000-old culture that believes in Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam'. He said, 'They called them terrorists. To answer them all, this is a symbol (fielding Thakur) and it will cost the Congress.' Following the backlash over the Karkare remarks, Thakur withdraw her statement and apologised, saying she was doing so as she felt 'the enemies of the country were being benefited from it'. A month later, Thakur triggered another political firestorm when she called Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a 'desh bhakt'. She said, 'Nathuram Godse was a patriot, is a patriot, and will remain a patriot… those who call him a terrorist should look within… they will get a reply this election.' As the party disowned the remarks, Modi also slammed Thakur. Responding to a query from the News24 TV channel, he said, 'The kind of remarks, statements made about Gandhiji and Godse is horribly wrong (bhayankar kharab). It is hateful, and these should be criticised and condemned in every which way. There is no place for such language, thinking in any civilised society. Those who do such things will have to think a hundred times in future. It's a different matter that she has apologised, I will not be able to forgive her from my heart.' As leaders such as Anantkumar Hegde and Nalin Kumar Kateel also backed Thakur, then party president Amit Shah warned there would be 'action' against the leaders who commented on Godse. 'We have decided to issue show cause notices. Once their responses come, disciplinary committee will take a decision … The entire BJP is upset, that's why prompt action has been taken. Appropriate action will be taken.' Thakur again made comments praising Godse in Parliament in November 2020. When DMK member A Raja, participating in a debate on the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, cited Godse's statement on why he killed the Mahatma, Thakur interrupted and made a remark praising Godse. As the angry Opposition sought an apology from Thakur and BJP members were seen persuading her to sit down. The comment was expunged from the Lok Sabha records. As the Opposition kept up the pressure, the party dropped Thakur from a parliamentary committee. Then BJP working president JP Nadda said, 'The statement given by MP Pragya Thakur is condemnable. BJP never supports such a statement and we do not support this ideology… We have decided that she will be removed from the consultative committee on defence, and will not be allowed to participate in the parliamentary party meetings this session.' In April 2024, while stating that Pragya's absence was hampering court proceedings, a special court had directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to verify her health condition and submit a report. Her controversial statements on Godse are believed to have cost Pragya a repeat ticket from her Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections despite the fact that she had emerged as a giant-killer in the 2019 polls by defeating Digvijaya by 3.64 lakh votes. Apart from the Godse row, BJP insiders had then said that Pragya was denied a ticket due to her lack of connect with voters and 'bad performance'. 'She refused to listen to most BJP leaders and was alienated from them. Ever since she won, she has been hardly seen in Bhopal. Her medical condition may have played a role, but her controversial statements ruined her chances,' a BJP leader had said. The BJP had replaced her in Bhopal with Alok Sharma, a loyalist of ex-Madhya Pradesh chief minister and current Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who also won the seat. Questioned by the media on denial of ticket to her, Pragya said: 'I have never made controversial remarks. I have always told the truth. But if any word of mine hurt our Prime Minister and made him say he will never forgive me, that was never my intention. I never did it again. The Congress abused him and maligned his office (over the remarks). They pulled off a political stunt.'
News18
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sexy! Pragya Jaiswal Slays Monsoon Style In Backless Dress
Last Updated: Pragya Jaiswal stuns in a backless tropical dress, gaining 14K likes on Instagram. Her post, captioned "That one hour when Baarish stops," features Sahiba by Aditya Rikhari. Pragya Jaiswal just turned up the monsoon heat and how! In a fresh set of photos that's taking social media by storm, the actress, who was last seen in Daaku Maharaj, flaunts a stunning, sexy backless dress with tropical leaf prints — and it's nothing short of sensational. The look is breezy, bold and oozes effortless charm — perfect for that one magical hour when the rain pauses and everything feels like a movie scene. Her post, captioned 'That one hour when Baarish stops 🌿💚", is set to the soothing strains of Sahiba by Aditya Rikhari, perfectly matching the vibe. Fans are loving the no-filter freshness. Many took to the comments section and dropped fire emojis and called her beautiful. With over 14K likes and counting, the internet has crowned this look as one of her hottest yet. Not long back, Pragya spent some dreamy days in Bali, Indonesia, and her vacation looked nothing short of magical. From beachy mornings to fun evenings, she seemed to be soaking in every bit of the island's vibe. Her post on Instagram showed just how exciting and beautiful her trip turned out to be. On the work front, Pragya was last seen in the action drama Daaku Maharaj, directed by Bobby Kolli. She appeared in the film alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna, Bobby Deol, Shraddha Srinath, Sachin Khedekar, Makarand Deshpande, Urvashi Rautela, Aadukalam Naren, Nithin Mehta, Ravi Kishan, VTV Ganesh, Rishi and Chandini Chowdary. Before Daaku Maharaj, Pragya made her Bollywood debut with Khel Khel Mein, directed by Mudassar Aziz. The film featured an ensemble including Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Aditya Seal, Ammy Virk and Taapsee Pannu. First Published: July 23, 2025, 19:58 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gauahar Khan calls out paparazzi's inappropriate behaviour towards Pragya Jaiswal, questions eve-teasing culture
Gauahar Khan condemned paparazzi for their inappropriate behaviour towards Pragya Jaiswal at Zayed Khan's birthday party. Pragya appeared uncomfortable as some paps made lewd comments. Gauahar called out this eve-teasing culture on Instagram. Pragya hasn't responded yet. Gauahar's recent work includes the show 'Lovely Lolla'. Gauahar Khan, known for her fearless expression of opinions, recently condemned the paparazzi for their disrespectful conduct towards actress Pragya Jaiswal . The incident, caught on camera during Zayed Khan 's birthday celebration in Mumbai, sparked widespread attention and prompted Gauahar to strongly criticize their behavior. Incident Unfolds at Zayed Khan's Birthday Bash The situation started as Pragya, clad in a black bodycon dress, posed for the photographers. Once she stopped and started to leave, some paparazzi began calling out to her inappropriately and making unsettling sounds, leaving her visibly uncomfortable. Gauahar Voices Frustration on Instagram On Monday, Gauahar expressed her frustration on Instagram, highlighting how some paparazzi contribute to normalizing eve-teasing. She acknowledged that although many photographers behave respectfully, a significant number cross the line with inappropriate remarks. Gauahar called for accountability, insisting that such disrespectful behavior must be addressed and stopped. Pragya Yet to Respond as Backlash Grows Pragya has not yet commented on the situation, but the video capturing the incident has led to widespread backlash against the paparazzi's inappropriate behavior. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI is helping small businesses increase productivity. Insider Learn More Undo Gauahar's Recent Work: Lovely Lolla On the work front, Gauahar Khan's most recent project was the show 'Lovely Lolla', where she starred alongside Isha Malviya and Nikhil Khurana. The series was created by producers Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey for their entertainment platform, Dreamiyata Dramaa.
Scroll.in
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Valley of Words Book Awards announces its 2025 longlists across eight categories
Valley of Words Book Awards has announced its 2025 longlists in eight categories: English Fiction, English Nonfiction, English Translation, Hindi Fiction, Hindi Nonfiction, Hindi Translation, Young Adult Literature, and Children's Literature. The shortlist will be announced by July 30, and the shortlisted authors and translators will be invited to the 2025 Valley of Words International Literature and Arts Festival in Dehradun. The winners will be announced at an event during the festival. Here are the longlisted books in each category: English fiction View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) English nonfiction View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) English translation View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) Hindi fiction Atarh Duniya Mein Kya Hasil, Pratyaksha Kandho Par Ghar, Pragya (लोकभारती द्वारा प्रकाशित) Kissagram, Prabhat Ranjan Chot, Chandan Pandey Jungli Phoolon Si Ladki, Anulata Raj Nair Zoya Desai Cottage, Pankaj Subir Vanya, Manisha Kulshrestha Vang Chi, Manish Vaidya Sama-Chakva, Gitashree Suno Kabir, Soni Pandey View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) Hindi translation Aaptkal Aakhyan, Gyan Prakash, translated by Mihir Pandya Aarohi, Mukul Kumar In Love With Death, Satish Modi, translated by Parija Khaulta Punjab, Baldev Singh Dhaliwal, translated by Tarsem Uttar Bharat Mein Chamar Aur Dalit Andolan Ka Itihas, Ramnarayan S Rawat, translated by Kanwal Bharti Balidan: Bharat Mein Special Forces Ke Mahan Yodhyao Ki Kahaniyan, Swapnil Pandey, translated by Ketan Mishra Bahattar Meel, Ashok Vatkar, translated by Sulabh Kore Rashtra Aur Naitikata, Rajeev Bhargava, translated by Abhishek Srivastava Shiuli Ki Gandh Aur Anya Kahaniya, Taslima Nasrin, translated by Utpal Banerjee Himalaya Ek Khoj: Lama, Sant, aur Nastik, Namita Gokhale, translated by Prabhat Ranjan View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) Hindi nonfiction Khaki Mein Sthitpragya, Anil Raturi Garhwal Aur Pratham Vishwayuddh, Devesh Joshi Garhwali Bhasha Aur Sahitya, Srijana Rana Pathik Mein Aravali Ka, Bhanwar Meghwanshi Bidaay De Maa!, Sudhir Vidyarthi Mahaviri Devi: 1857 Ki Kranti Ki Mahaan Virangana, Praveen Kumar Manse Ki Jaat, Sujata Paramita Hampi: Utkarsh Se Apkarsh Tak, Tapas Chakravarti Hum Aur Humara Nyaytantra, Yaksh Himalaya Ka Itihas, Madan Chandra Bhatt View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) Young adult literature View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest) Children's literature A Roof for Norbu, Sujatha Padmanabhan and Labonie Roy A Tree in My Stomach, Nandita Rao and Charbak Dipta Cactus Wants a Hug, Neil Flory and Simon Yeo Ganesh Pyne's Twilight Dreams, Vaishali Shroff and Priya Kuriyan Lal Pari aur Chota Pankh: Red Fairy and the Tiny Wing, Deepak Heera Rangnath and Priyankar Gupta Master of the 7 Swars, Pratyush Gupta Saurmandal ki Sair Champu's Trip to Outerspace, Alankrita Amaya and Devika Oza Shhhhhssss Listen! Even Sarees Speak!, Devyani Mungali What Am I Good At?, Rahul Pradhan and Sunaina Coelho Will Goondi Come Home?, Adithi Rao and Fida Hamid View this post on Instagram A post shared by Valley of Words (@vowlitfest)
