Describing her 'torture', she said they wanted her to say 'she was responsible for bombing and killing Muslims'. She said: "Dusk would turn into dawn as they beat me up, policemen would come and go and I would be the one getting beaten up."
Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur on Thursday broke down while recalling the 'torture' she faced in the custody of law enforcing agencies.
Interacting with BJP workers here, Thakur said: "When they took me away illegally, they kept me for 13 days. On the first day itself, they started beating me. When they used to hit me with a belt, the entire nervous system used to go blank. They used to beat me day and night."
"They used to hurl abuses while beating me. They used to threaten me to hang me upside down. I was threatened to be stripped off. It is unbearable for me to recall the torture I suffered in the custody," she said in a choked voice.
Thakur, whom the BJP has fielded against Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, said: "I am not recalling my pain before you but all I am saying is that no sister should undergo what I have faced."
"Did I indulge in some corruption or did I snatch someone's post? But this did not happen due to these reasons. They told me not to talk about patriotism. They told me not to speak for the country," she said.
She also claimed that she was beaten because the interrogators wanted her to confess that she had carried out a blast and killed Muslims.
"I never knew why they were beating me? The only reason which I later got to know was that they wanted me to say that I have carried out an explosion and killed Muslims. This was their politics. This was their act of sedition. This was their conspiracy to break the country," she said.
"They kept asking me -- You carried out those explosions. I said -- I did not. Then they said that you are a terrorist. RSS is a terrorist organisation. I realised that Hindutva was being targeted," said Sadhvi.
Terming those who allegedly framed her in Malegaon blast case as atheists, she said: "They never knew the power of patriots. What would these people would now about the power of patriots? They get sold just for money and clothes."
She said: "They used to beat me for the entire night and stopped only when they feared that now blood would begin to come out from my hands. They used to bring hot water, mix salt in it and then they used to dip my hand in that so that they become soft and they can beat me again."
Pragya claimed that due to several narco, polygraph, and brain-mapping tests conducted on her, she was diagnosed with cancer.
"Three narco tests, three polygraph tests, and three brain-mapping tests were conducted on me. These are tests where chemical are injected into your body, which causes cancer," she said.
She further alleged that there were attempts to kill her on the pretext of an encounter.
"They tried to encounter me. I thought it will not matter even if they will kill me but I won't let them reach the heart where the Mother India lives," said Pragya.
Urging the people to stay vigilant from those who are trying to brand "saffron" colour as terrorism, she said: "Our nation is in danger because of these traitors. Our soldiers sacrifice themselves for us, but they question their valour. They praise the enemy country."
Pragya Singh Thakur while alleging torture by jail officials says, "Vo kehalvana chahte the ki tumne ek visfot kiya hai aur Muslimo ko maara hai.....subah ho jati thi pit'te pit'te, log badal jate the peetne wale, lekin pitne wali main sirf akeli rehti thi." pic.twitter.com/C0T8rzByVn
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2019
#WATCH: Alleging torture by jail officials, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal, breaks down while addressing the party workers pic.twitter.com/UVUomvmJZ2
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2019
1. Tales of torture
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In 2008, then NDA candidate LK Advani had said: "I cannot believe that such barbaric treatment has been meted out to a spiritual person, that too, a woman in a country that prides itself on its democracy and rule of law.”
Pragya has often claimed that she was the victim of a faux Hindu terror narrative created by UPA.
She was arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast case in which six people were killed and 100 injured when an explosive device went off near a mosque.
In total, she spent nine years in jail, and was given a clean chit by NIA in 2015. However, NIA’s views were rejected by court and she was arraigned under UAPA.
She made a litany of allegations of torture which included being beaten black and blue by male policemen. They made her listen to pornographic recordings with other male undertrials. She was reportedly denied cancer treatment in 2013. She said she was beaten and starved, kept for days without food. She said policemen would beat her black and blue all day and only take breaks to rest.
She said her torture included electric shocks and she was also verbally abused
2. Sadhvi calls Opp 'anti-national'
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Sadhvi, who is on bail, dubbed the Opposition's questions on Rafale jet deal and Balakot airstrike as anti-national.
When asked about her agenda on development, Sadhvi said: "If a person who is committed to the nation is declared as a terrorist, if questions are raised on soldiers and their actions, and if information on defence deals are asked to be made public then these actions amount to anti-national acts. If the nation is secured, we will be safe. And if we are safe, only then we can bring in development."
We will soon come with our agenda on development," she added.
When asked her views on the construction of gaushalas (cow sheds) by the state government, she circumscribed her response by saying that she will soon put her point of view on the matter in writing.
Sadhvi alleged that the Congress government in the state has done away with the schemes started by its predecessor, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government.
On repeated question by scribes on development, Sadhvi said she will highlight the development work done by Chouhan. She, however, indicated that her main focus will be on underlining the alleged 'injustices' done to her by the Congress.
3. Cong coined the word saffron terror: Sadhvi Pragya
"Congress coined the word Bhagva Aatankwad (saffron terror), it is the same saffron colour which is featured in our national flag. They have flouted the law and committed atrocities on me, a woman. How can I guarantee that it would not happen to any other woman what was done to me in the past 10 years?" she said.
However, she did not clarify which law she was talking about.
"If they have coined Hindu terror, they can coin Muslim terror and Christian terror, as well. People who are bent to divide the society can do anything," she said.
She asked: "Why was I labelled as a terrorist?"
Responding to her rival and Congress candidate Digvijaya Singh's comments on her candidature, Sadhvi said, "He is reiterating my views that peace should not be disrupted. That is why this type of people should not be allowed in Bhopal."
Singh welcomed her in Bhopal yesterday, saying "hope you like the peaceful, educated and civilised atmosphere of the city."
"I pray to Maa (goddess) Narmada for Sadhviji and seek blessing from Narmadaji (holy river) so that we all walk the path of truth, non-violence and religion. Narmada Har (glory be to the Narmada)," Singh tweeted.
Voting in Bhopal will take place on May 12. The counting of votes will be held on May 23.
