After campaign ban, Sadhvi goes temple hopping

Banned by the Election Commission of India from campaigning for 72 hours, Bhopal BJP candidate and Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur is now visiting various temples.

Pragya seems to be following in the steps of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who too spent time temple hopping following a 72-hour ban for his "Ali-versus-Bajrang Bali" remark last month.

The commission notified the ban on Pragya Thakur on Wednesday night, which became effective from Thursday morning. She is barred from holding election rallies, road shows and giving interviews to media.

The ban followed complaints against the BJP candidate for her offensive remark against 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare and her boast that she had participated in the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.

On Thursday evening, Pragya filed a petition in the election commission office seeking curtailment of the ban period to 12 hours. She also offered an unqualified apology for her comments.

She also told the media that she would abide by the Election Commission’s order. “But I need to clarify my stand again and therefore filing a review petition”.

The Congress, on the other hand, drew the election commission’s attention to the fact that despite the ban, the BJP candidate is creating a road-show like the atmosphere around herself by visiting temples with a large number of supporters. A Congress delegation approached the MP electoral office with a complaint against Pragya Thakur in this regard.

The commission had taken suo motu cognizance of the BJP candidate’s inflammable remarks against Ashok chakra awardee martyr Hemant Karkare and on Babri demolition.