Malegaon case: BJP trying to save saffron terror suspects, alleges Cong

The Congress attacked the BJP-led government on Friday over the National Investigation Agency’s decision to drop all charges against Pragya Thakur and five others in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

The Congress attacked the BJP-led government on Friday over the National Investigation Agency’s decision to drop all charges against Pragya Thakur and five others in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, saying the Union government was trying to save alleged terrorists belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the saffron fountainhead.

Congress’ Digvijaya Singh said it was deplorable that an honest and sincere officer like Hemant Karkare, who put his life in danger and fought against terrorists, is being accused of fabricating evidences. ( Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The government, however, rejected the allegations, saying it does not interfere in the probe.

BJP representatives said Thakur was “framed” by the UPA government that was headed by Congress.

Congress’ Digvijaya Singh said it was deplorable that an honest and sincere officer like Hemant Karkare, who put his life in danger and fought against terrorists, is being accused of fabricating evidences. Karkare, the then Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad chief, was killed while fighting Pakistani terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Singh accused PM Narendra Modi, home minister Rajnath Singh and the Union cabinet of “pressuring” officers of the NIA to drop the suspects in the Malegaon blasts.

Singh also tweeted that two of the absconders in the “Hindu terror” cases - Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra – are shown as member of Sikh militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International on the website of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

As many as 16 people, including Thakur, were arrested in connection with the blasts.

“Was the NIA DG given extension for this?” he asked.

“As I had predicted BJP and RSS have started the process of saving the Sangh activists involved in terror cases,” Singh said.

Singh’s colleague and Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the NIA had become “Namo Investigation Authority purely aimed” at giving clean chit to leaders affiliated to the BJP and RSS in criminal cases.

Rejecting the allegations, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju attacked the UPA government for coining the term “Hindu terrorism” to serve its interests.

“Justice should prevail. There should be no interference in handling such cases. Our government has allowed agencies to work independently,” he told reporters.