BJP veteran bats for Sadhvi Pragya against Digvijaya Singh

BHOPAL: Senior BJP leader Raghunandan Sharma has said that Sadhvi Pragya Thakur should be fielded against Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal constituency, arguing that if the party can give a ticket to actress Jaya Prada five hours after she joined BJP, “what’s wrong in fielding Sadhvi Pragya who is a diehard nationalist”.

Talking to TOI, Sharma said, “A person who coined words like Hindu Atankvad (Hindu terrorism) or Bhagwa Atankvad (saffron terrorism) can never be pro-Hindu or a nationalist. A true nationalist, like Pragya, is the right candidate against Digvijaya.”

Sharma, a former Rajya Sabha MP, said BJP should convince Pragya to enter the poll fray “without delay”. “The party should consider, contact and ask Pragya to contest from Bhopal as it is a city of intellectuals and nationalists. In this election, polarisation between nationalist and separatist forces is highly likely. I do not believe in polarisation on the basis of religion, but I am not against polarisation for the country,” said Sharma.

Sadhvi Pragya had told TOI that she is making up her mind to accept the challenge against Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal. On March 24, Pragya had said, “If it’s about taking on someone who calls Hindus terrorists and speaks against the nation, I am ready. His (Digvijaya) statements give strength to enemy countries. It’s not my wish, but I think people want me to enter politics. And, if the Sangthan wants me to contest, I am ready.”

On Wednesday, Digvijaya Singh launched his poll campaign in Bhopal in the presence of senior leaders and party workers, calling himself a Hindu.

Sharma, however, dubbed Digvijaya “anti-Hindu and anti-nationalist”. “Digivijaya gave honour to terrorists by adding `ji' to their name, raised doubts over police action in Batala House encounter and sought proof of Balakot air strike. Such a person will not be accepted by the voters of Bhopal,” he said, adding: “One can understand Pakistan seeking proof of air strikes, but it was shocking that a former general secretary of Congress was toeing Pakistan’s line.”

The BJP leader claims Digvijaya’s candidature from Bhopal was “planned by the Congress leadership to get rid of him”. “It is a good chance for the saffron party to defeat Digvijaya in Bhopal,” said Sharma.