Hindutva activist Pragya Singh Thakur, who was acquitted earlier this year in the Malegaon blast case, sparked controversy at a Durga Vahini Shastra Pujan in Bhopal on Sunday. She urged Hindu women to steer clear of Muslim men and to refuse household assistance from them, making alarming remarks including, “When the enemy (Muslims) comes, they should be cut in half.”
Thakur, a former BJP MP from Bhopal and a prominent figure in the Malegaon blasts that resulted in the death of six individuals and injuries to over 100 in a predominantly Muslim area, drew attention again for her inflammatory comments.
She stated, “There is no brother-sister bond in Miyas [a derogatory term for Muslims]. If they don’t respect their own sisters, how can they respect you as their sister? Don’t ever become sisters of Muslims.” In a concerning appeal, she said, “When our daughters are abducted and their bodies are thrown on the road, it causes immense pain. To release that pain, when the enemy comes, they should be cut in half.”
Thakur advised women to make practical vows to exclude Muslim men from their homes, advising against allowing them to perform household tasks, such as light fittings or water-tap repairs. She also recommended that women avoid purchasing food from Muslim-run establishments near temples and suggested organizing groups to identify these shops. “Once such Vidharmis selling prasad near our temples are caught, they should be thrashed and handed over to law enforcement,” she added.
Additionally, she criticized India’s first prime minister indirectly, labeling his leadership a mistake, a statement which could elicit further tensions in the political arena.
Thakur’s comments have sparked widespread political backlash. Umang Singhar, Leader of the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh, condemned her statements as “objectionable” and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of inciting anti-Muslim tensions to distract the public from pressing issues, including unemployment and inflation. “The BJP accuses others of playing Hindu-Muslim politics, but its own leaders make such provocative statements from public platforms. Pragya Thakur is a repeat offender,” Singhar stated.
Thakur’s remarks fit within a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric aimed at Muslims, often involving claims around “love jihad,” calls for violence against perceived adversaries, and encouragement of boycotts against the Muslim community. In a previous instance, she mentioned that Hindus should keep weapons ready at home, again referring to Muslims as “enemies,” saying, “Keep weapons at home. Keep them sharp. If veggies can be cut well, so can the enemy’s head.”
These comments have resulted in First Information Reports (FIRs) and widespread condemnation, given their potential to escalate Islamophobic sentiments in society.
Tags: Hindutva, Pragya Singh Thakur, outrage, cut enemies, Muslim men
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