Sadhvi Pragya a 'symbol' for those who described Hindus as terrorists: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday defended the party’s decision to field Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, saying she is a "symbol" for those who described Hindus as terrorists – an apparent jibe at the Congress over saffron terror remarks.

She will give a tough fight to the Congress there, he said.

Thakur is pitted against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from the seat in Madhya Pradesh.

"The decision (to field Thakur) is a befitting reply to individuals who linked a whole religion and culture to terror,” the prime minister said in an interview to Times Now news channel.

The recent remarks of Pragya on IPS officer Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, raised a political storm with opposition parties attacking the saffron party and the Congress demanding an apology from PM Narendra Modi.

Pragya had claimed that Karkare died during the attacks as she "cursed" him for torturing her.

Following severe criticism from different quarters, Pragya on Friday tendered her apology for her "emotionally-charged" remarks.

PM Modi also said the recent Income Tax raids on certain politicians were not part of "political vendetta" and things were happening as per the law.

He said the Income Tax raids were happening as per the law and were not part of any "political vendetta".

He said the raids have all yielded proof of corruption, including siphoning of money from schemes meant for the most vulnerable sections of the society like children and expectant mothers.

Responding to a question on loan defaulters Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi escaping the country, Modi said when they realised that under the present government, they will have to return the loan. They escaped taking benefit of the system, he said.

In 2019, they have been brought to the steps of jails, after 2019, they will be in jail, Modi said.

"Why aren't the critics talking about the fact that some have lost their cases on extradition while others are rotting in jail,” he said.

He asserted that the BJP will return to power with greater numbers and said even the NDA allies would do better than 2014 polls. It will be a complete majority, Modi said.