'Not elected to clean toilets and drains': Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur tells BJP workers

Thakur's statement comes amid PM Modi's push to make the country clean and open defecation free under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur (File Photo | PTI)
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur (File Photo | PTI)

BHOPAL: Newly elected BJP MP from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency Pragya Singh Thakur, who hogged the media headlines for series of controversial statements during the recent general elections is once again in news – this time for a novel statement.

The saffron-clad BJP lawmaker clearly told the party workers in adjoining Sehore district on Sunday that she hasn’t been elected MP for getting their drains and toilets cleaned – a surprising statement, particularly when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s has been focusing on a mission mode to make the country clean and open defecation free under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Interacting with the local party workers at the government guest house in Sehore assembly segment of Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, Thakur, who is accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, said “hum naali saaf karwane ke liye nahi bane hai, theek hai naa, hum aapka shauchalaya saaf karne ke liye bilkul nahi banvaye gaye hain. Hum jis kaam ke liye banvaye gaye hain, voh kam hum imandari se karenge, ye mera pahle bhi kahna thaa, ab bhi aur aage bhi kahenge aur karenge (we haven’t been elected to clean your drains and toilets, please understand it. The works for which we’ve been elected will be done honestly),” said Thakur in presence of local BJP MLA Sudesh Rai.

“It’s the duty of a Member of Parliament to work in coordination with the local public representatives, including local MLAs and municipal councillors for the overall development of the constituency. For getting the local problems resolved, we need to get such works done by our local public representatives,” said Thakur.

“Get your local issues and work done through the local representatives, instead of calling me on my phone every now and then,” Thakur told the party workers.

She further asked the party workers “Tell me what kind of MP you want? Someone who is just like some other MP’s of the party, who haven’t spoken even once in the Parliament despite being elected thrice as MP or an MP who has a different approach.”

She added, “Without being told by the local population, I’ve raised the issue of more train stoppages in Sehore in the Lok Sabha recently and will continue to be your voice in the Parliament.”

Reacting to Thakur’s recent statements, MP cabinet minister and senior Congress leader Brijendra Singh Rathore said in Bhopal, the newly elected Bhopal MP’s statements about not being responsible for cleanliness and sanitation, particularly when PM Modi is focused on cleanliness and sanitation mission shows there are inherent contradictions within the BJP.

Importantly, since being fielded by the BJP from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in the recent general elections, Thakur had made series of controversial statements, including stating that it was her curse, which led to then Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare’s killing during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

She had also made controversial statements about 1992 Ayodhya demolition, besides dubbing Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a patriot.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha polls campaign trail PM Modi had made it clear that he won’t be able to forgive Thakur for her controversial statements, particularly on glorifying Nathuram Godse.

Thakur, who defeated Congress veteran and ex-CM Digvijaya Singh by over 3.64 lakh votes, was later issued a show-cause notice by the party over her statements. She reportedly replied to the notice promising not to repeat such acts in the future.

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