Political and social organisations took out a protest rally here on Tuesday against the clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and the other accused in the Malegaon blasts case by the National Investigative Agency (NIA).
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the All India Democratic Student Organisation, the All India Student Federation and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) were among those who participated in the rally.
Sadhvi Pragya was one of the 14 persons accused in the charge sheet filed by former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare for the 2008 Malegaon blasts. However, the NIA has not named her in its charge sheet filed before the Mumbai High Court.
Protesters alleged that the NIA did a U-turn under pressure from the BJP government. They argued that Yakub Memon was hanged because his vehicle was used to carry out the 1993 Mumbai blasts, while Sadhvi Pragya, whose vehicle was used in the Malegaon blasts, had been left “scot-free.” Comrade Mahindra Singh, Central Committee member, CPI (M), said if the government protected Hindu extremists, terrorism would only grow.
The writer is an intern with The Hindu
