Digvijaya Singh shares a 'welcome' message for Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

Hours after the BJP fielded Hindutva activist Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur against him from Bhopal, Congress leader Digvijay Singh took a dig at her, saying he hoped she will be "attracted" by the "peaceful and dignified" environment of the capital city.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. Photo: Twitter

NEW DELHI: Hours after the BJP announced Sandhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as its candidate from Bhopal, former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, who is the Congress nominee from Madhya Pradesh's capital city, shared a video message for her on Twitter. In the video, Singh took a dig at Thakur, saying he hoped she will be "attracted" by the "peaceful and dignified" environment of Bhopal. Thakur, facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, will take on Singh in the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, a BJP citadel. The Congress stalwart took to micro-blogging site to "welcome" the right-wing activist, who spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2017. Singh said he hoped the "peaceful and dignified" environment of Bhopal would "attract" the saffron leader. "I welcome Sadhvi Pragyaji in Bhopal and hope that the picturesque city's peaceful, educated and dignified environment would attract you," he tweeted. "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 said in another tweet.

मैं साध्वी प्रज्ञा जी का भोपाल में स्वागत करता हूँ। आशा करता हूँ कि इस रमणीय शहर का शांत, शिक्षित और सभ्य वातावरण आपको पसंद आएगा। मैं माँ नर्मदा से साध्वी जी के लिए प्रार्थना करता हूँ और नर्मदा जी से आशीर्वाद माँगता हूँ कि हम सब सत्य, अहिंसा और धर्म की राह पर चल सकें। नर्मदे हर! pic.twitter.com/LYAbpTObgY

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) April 17, 2019

The Sadhvi became the face of right-wing extremism after being arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad in the blast case. On December 27, 2017, a special NIA court had dropped stringent charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against Thakur and other accused. The high-profile poll battle between Thakur and Singh, a known RSS basher, will be closely watched. The Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, which has over 18 lakh voters, including 4.5 lakh from the minority community, will go to the polls on May 12. The BJP has been winning the seat since 1989. Alok Sanjar is the sitting MP from the constituency. (With inputs from PTI)