Haven't been elected to clean toilets: Pragya Thakur tells BJP-worker
Terror accused-turned-parliamentarian, Pragya Thakur, on Sunday sparked yet another controversy when she said she hasn't been elected to "clean toilets". Pragya, who won elections from Bhopal, was responding to a party worker who complained about lack of cleanliness in his area. It doesn't miss one's attention that Pragya's statement contrasts Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Here's what went down.
"We haven't been elected to clean your drains, ok?"
Pragya was interacting with BJP workers in Sehore, which falls under her constituency. On hearing a worker's plea about cleanliness, she said, "We haven't been elected to clean your drains, ok? We haven't been elected to clean your toilets, please understand. The work for which I have been elected, I will do honestly, I have said that before and I will say it again."
Further, Pragya also directed workers to not call her frequently
"It's an MP's duty to work in coordination with local public representatives, including local MLAs and municipal councilors for overall development of constituency... Get your local issues and work done through local representatives instead of calling me on my phone every now and then," she added.
The clip of her statement went viral. Watch it here
Apparently, BJP workers were happy with Pragya's remarks
As per reports, Pragya's statement drew lauds from other members of BJP present at the meeting. To note, she made the comments just days after BJP MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, and Anurag Thakur, who is the MoS in Finance Ministry, swept Parliament's premises with a broom. The cleanliness drive was organized by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, but Hema's mannerisms got her trolled.
While BJP leaders refused to comment, Congress slammed Pragya
As the video garnered attention, BJP leaders chose to not give their opinion on it. Former Bhopal MP, Alok Sanjar, who actively promoted Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, said, "I am not aware of what Pragya ji has said. I cannot comment on her statement." And Congress, which governs the state, was quick to slam Pragya. Shobha Oza asked BJP to come clean on Pragya's comments.
She has no business in the Parliament: Oza
"It was a mockery of democracy that a person like her (Pragya) entered Parliament. The person who abuses Gandhiji and glorified Godse has no business in Parliament," Oza said. Reportedly, she also asked BJP to take action against Pragya.
This isn't first time that Pragya's statements sparked a controversy
To recall, the candidature of Pragya, who is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, sparked a massive row. She was fielded to take on former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh. During electioneering, her statements often landed her in news. She claimed former Mumbai ATS Chief Hemant Karkare died due to her "curse" and also called Nathuram Godse a deshbhakt.
