‘Will defeat evil forces in this dharmyudh’

Controversial Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, on bail in the Malegaon blast case, talks to The Tribune reporter Vibha Sharma on the controversy surrounding her remarks against late Mumbai Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare and other issues, including Hindutva. Excerpts:

How confident are you of winning in Bhopal? Don’t you think your statement against Hemant Karkare has only strengthened the position of Digvijay Singh?

I see my victory in the eyes of every citizen of Bhopal. Whether old or young, everyone is blessing me like his or her sister or daughter and this gives me complete confidence that I will win over evil forces like Digvijay Singh in this ‘dharmayudh’.

Do you think you made a mistake by publicly venting your anger against the late IPS officer Hemant Karkare who laid down his life for the country?

I have never demeaned anybody’s martyrdom. Anyone who fought for the nation or lived for the nation has the highest possible respect in my heart. My party has also stated its stand on the issue loud and clear. As a disciplined worker of my party, I abide by it completely.

But your comments have been condemned by the IPS fraternity? Do you not think you have antagonised the entire police force?

As I said earlier I never meant anything like that so no such question arises now.

You have been used to polarise these elections. What is your agenda in these elections?

When two Hindus are contesting, where is the question of polarising? Narendra Modi has proved himself to be the best Prime Minister and made the country stronger and Shivrajji (former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan) have played a very important role in Madhya Pradesh in its progress. My agenda is to strengthen their efforts for the state and Bhopal.

Are you worried over the soft Hindutva image your rival Digvijay Singh is trying to build to counter you?

Digvijay Singh is a known anti-Hindu Congress leader who always appeases minority communities. Perhaps he never thought he, as an ambassador of ‘Osamaji’, ‘Hafiz Sayeed saheb’ and ‘innocent Afzal Guru’, will have to come to a public trial in the heart of India. He is afraid of his defeat that is why he is on a temple run, but God will never forgive him. People 

will chargesheet him for what he did in Azamgarh.