Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal, Pragya Singh Thakur is observing silence after the 3-day ban on campaigning by the Election Commission. She is moving on the path of UP CM Yogi Adityanath. Today she visited many temples in Bhopal and offered prayers. She went to gaushalas and fed the cattle. After the ban on campaigns, Sadhvi’s routine has changed so much so she spends maximum time visiting temples and gaushalas. She started the day with her bhajan mandali.
The Sadhvi may not be able to go to the field to campaign but she is making all out efforts to remain in the limelight. Soon after the ban, she proceeded to the temple. She visited the Bhavani temple and took prasad from the priest. When she reached the Hanuman temple, there Hanuman Chalisa was going on Pragya who is observing silence, joined the Mandali by playing the Jhanjh-Manjeera.
On the ban, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur appealed to the Election Commission to reduce the period of ban by applying a review petition on the ban. She has demanded that the ban be imposed for 12 hours instead of 72 hours. The petition also mentions getting less time for campaigning.
In her Reconsideration Plea submitted to the Commission, Sadhvi Pragya wrote that, “I give an unconditional apology that I will follow the electoral system and model code of conduct in future and will give no chance for any complaint.”
Pragya has demanded that the period of ban be reduced to 12 hours instead of 72 hours. She has also mentioned that, ‘I have not made a statement to hurt religious sentiments and did not make any statement on Babri Masjid that can destroy peace. I have apologized for my statement on Hemant Karkare and have withdrawn it.
Cong lodges complaint with EC
Sadhvi Pragya visited the Bhawani Mata temple on Thursday morning, where she offered prayers and participated in a `kirtan’ along with BJP workers. This raised the hackles of Congress which objected to Pragya’s temple visit and lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. The Congress also took exception to the BJP pamphlet titled ‘Sadhvi Ke Sangharsh Ki Kahani’ which talks about her alleged torture.
The party alleged that Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma and municipal corporation chairman Surjeet Singh Chouhan had violated the model code of conduct and case should be filed against them.
BJP leader Alok Sharma said, “Sadhvi Pragya visited Bhavani temple to offer prayers to the goddess. She also participated in the kirtan. BJP workers are with her and they will campaign for her during the ban.”
BJP candidate Thakur, who is contesting against Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal, was banned by the Election Commission from campaigning for three days with effect from 6 am on Thursday, for her remarks on 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare and Babri Masjid demolition. The EC had also warned her not to repeat the ‘misconduct’.
A day after the ban, Pragya postponed all her poll meetings and roadshows to reach the Bhavani Mata temple situated at Peer Gate in Old Bhopal area early in the morning where she offered prayers and took part in `kirtan’ along with the party workers.
Thakur left the temple premises after an hour-and-a-half without taking any question from the media.
‘We will obey the EC order’
However, she has already clarified that she respects the EC order. “We will obey the EC order. We think that we need to clarify our stand before the EC again. We are mulling to file a review appeal before the EC. My party is thinking on the same lines”, tweeted Pragya.
Pragya was handed two EC notices on April 21 for claiming that she had cursed Karkare a month before he was killed by terrorists, and for boasting that she climbed atop Babri Masjid and is “proud to have demolished it”. She apologized for her Karkare comment, but stuck to her Babri statement, arguing that it had been “taken out of context”. The EC wasn’t convinced with her replies and impose a three-day ban on her campaign.
After the temple visit, Thakur visited Gufa Mandir in Lal Ghati area and the temple’s gaushala. Pragya also visited Shaurya Smarak to pay tributes to martyrs.