Bhopal, July 31 (NationPress) Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti responded to the ruling in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, asserting that the notion of "Hindu terrorism" was a contrived political maneuver intended to appease Islamic terrorists and solidify vote banks.

In an interview with IANS, Bharti welcomed the exoneration of all seven defendants, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.

"I may not be personally acquainted with all the accused, but I was familiar with Sadhvi Pragya and Lt Colonel Purohit. From the outset, it was evident they were innocent. There was a deliberate scheme to fabricate the concept of ‘Hindu terrorism’ to appease Islamic terrorists and secure a particular vote bank. Congress leaders were blindly adhering to that agenda," she stated.

The BJP leader further asserted that the entire affair was politically orchestrated and ideologically charged.

"To cater to a specific demographic and appease terrorist sympathizers, the term ‘saffron terror’ was invented. Innocent individuals were demeaned, wrongfully accused, and mistreated while in custody. I denounce those responsible for this conspiracy and demand they ask for forgiveness from the entire nation," she expressed.

She also accused senior Congress figure Digvijaya Singh of being the originator of this narrative.

"Digvijaya Singh acted under the instructions of Rahul Gandhi. They propagated the term ‘saffron terror’ and, to rationalize it, unjustly implicated innocent individuals. These defendants endured mental and physical torment. I met Pragya in Nashik; she was in a dreadful state and had suffered tremendously. Nevertheless, she remained steadfast, even in the face of death, and refused to implicate innocent individuals to alleviate her own suffering," Bharti recounted.

The BJP leader further highlighted, “Terrorism knows no color. Terror has no religion, caste, or identity. Associating it with a faith is a severe injustice.”

When asked if Digvijaya Singh should apologize, Bharti replied, “Not merely an apology. There should be legal repercussions for him, Rahul Gandhi, and P. Chidambaram. They must be held accountable for their actions against these innocent individuals.”

Meanwhile, the NIA court on Thursday acquitted all seven defendants in the Malegaon blast case, citing insufficient evidence. The court dismissed all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The explosion occurred on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon, Maharashtra during the holy month of Ramzan and just prior to Navratri. A bomb attached to a motorcycle detonated near Bhikku Chowk mosque, resulting in six fatalities and injuring over 100.

The court, which had reserved its judgment on April 19, referenced the extensive volume of evidence — exceeding one lakh pages — and lengthy testimonies from 323 witnesses (34 of whom turned hostile) as contributing factors to the delay. All accused, including Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Purohit, and retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, had previously been out on bail.

The investigation, initially conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), was transferred to the NIA in 2011.