Amit Shah, the Bharatiya Janata Party president, on Monday defended party’s decision to field Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency despite a case of terrorism pending against her. Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, which is being heard in a National Investigation Agency court. “Sadhvi Pragya was given a clean chit after false case was filed against her,” news agency PTI quoted Shah as saying at a press conference in Kolkata. The BJP has held this seat since 1989 Lok Sabha polls. Shah dismissed the speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest from a second Lok Sabha seat from West Bengal.

Source: Hindustan Times April 22, 2019 05:38 UTC