Bhopal: RSS in daamage control mode, forces Sadhvi to withdraw comment

Sadhvi Pragya Thakur withdrew her controversial statement on martyr Hemant Karkare following intervention of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Pragya’s controversial statement on Karkare had led Congress and other opposition parties make it a national issue. The statement had put BJP in troubled waters, which is contesting election on the issue of nationalism. Sadhvi’s statement has also created internal storm within the BJP.

The party leaders had registered their protest against Pragya’s statement with former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and organizational general secretary Suhas Bhagat. These BJP leaders had apprised the key leaders of the state party organization that Pragya’s statement would be detrimental to the party’s prospects not only in Bhopal but at other places too.

According to sources, BJP leaders had asked Pragya to issue clarification on her statement. When Pragya did not budge, RSS came into the picture. A senior RSS leader asked the BJP candidate to withdraw her statement which to an extent helped in sorting out the issue. Cautious following the controversy generated by Sadhvi’s statement, the BJP organization would now outline the speech of Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate. Sans any political background, Pragya does not have much idea about sensitive issues that can create furor across nation and generate political heat. She would now be helped by BJP spokespersons in issuing statements.