'My daughter Pragya is innocent'

'My daughter Sadhvi Pragya' November 4, 2008
Dr Chandrapal Singh is a master at detecting disease merely by feeling the pulse of his patients. He practices the ancient method of nadi nidan as recommended in ancient Ayurveda texts.
It's a moot point if he was able to detect what went wrong with his second daughter, Puranchetanand Giri, better known as Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, who has been arrested by the Mumbai police's Anti Terrorist Squad in connection with the bomb blast in Malegaon on September 29.
Pragya's arrest is a turning point in the ongoing heated political debate over terrorism, home-grown terrorists and related issues like political rights and duties of the minority and majority communities in India. The stereotype-breaking police allegation against Pragya and her associates is the first time Hindus have been linked to terrorism in India.
Is Pragya Thakur involved in planting bombs in Malegaon as the ATS would like us to believe? Is she the first Hindu woman terrorist in India? Has she been trapped for political reasons? Is she a believer in rabid Hindutva trapped in a police case or did she participate willingly in a terrorist act to protest against jihadi terrorism?
These are pertinent questions. The ATS is searching for more evidence with the help of forensic tests like narco-analysis, psycho-profiling and lie-detector tests.
Meanwhile, rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt travelled to Surat where she spoke to Pragya's father Dr Chandrapal Singh to know more about the sadhvi's early life.
Dr Chandrapal Singh is a committed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker for the last 35 years and believes in its core ideology of Hindu rashtra. He claims he personally knows the RSS supremo K S Sudarshan and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
When the conversation was in progress, Pragya's mother Sarla Devi interrupted to say that Modi had even visited their home. (However, rediff.com was unable to confirm this).

My family belongs to Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh. I am a Hindu but also known as a Kshatriya. (At this point his wife Sarla Devi objects to detailed questions about their early life. Dr Singh explains that since their family has 'nothing to hide', they should talk to all journalists and visitors without reservation. He asks her to keep her cool.) After 11 years of my marriage, Pragya was born. I have four daughters and one son. Children are always similar to their parents. I am a believer, a Hindu and quite proud of my religion. My dharampatni (wife) is also similar to me.
To believe in Ram or goddesses is a kind of primary belief. Now, I have graduated above it. I believe in the nirakar (formless). Beginners, who don't know much about God claim that Ganeshji or Lord Shankar is God. But, after understanding these Gods we have to move ahead. God is above forms. God is nirakar (has no form), God is omnipotent, omnipresent.
Pragya was born in Dhatiya district in Madhya Pradesh. Then, I was in government service as a 'demonstrator' in the agriculture department and, at same time, I was practicing Ayurveda.
In our family money never got top prominence. From a religious point of view there are four stages of one's actions -- dharma (duty), artha (money), kama (desire), moksha (freedom from desires) -- in our lives. The sequence has changed in today's lives. Kama and artha are dominating our lives. As a child, Pragya was an innocent and straight-forward girl.
As you know, it is normal to talk to girls about their expectations from marriage, about her preference of to-be mother-in-law. Pragya used to get upset if we talked to her about marriage or any such things. She never liked talk of marriage and she never went to see movies.
She never liked film songs. When she came to understand the meaning of Hindi film songs she kept away from them. In her teenage years she would sit in silence and pray before Shankar and Durga Mata. In school she was an average student but after she passed tenth standard her intelligence quotient started increasing. She passed intermediate exams from Lahar village in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh and she did her BA in history from a Bhind college. My family belongs to Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh. I am a Hindu but also known as a Kshatriya. (At this point his wife Sarla Devi objects to detailed questions about their early life. Dr Singh explains that since their family has 'nothing to hide', they should talk to all journalists and visitors without reservation. He asks her to keep her cool.) After 11 years of my marriage, Pragya was born. I have four daughters and one son. Children are always similar to their parents. I am a believer, a Hindu and quite proud of my religion. My dharampatni (wife) is also similar to me.
To believe in Ram or goddesses is a kind of primary belief. Now, I have graduated above it. I believe in the nirakar (formless). Beginners, who don't know much about God claim that Ganeshji or Lord Shankar is God. But, after understanding these Gods we have to move ahead. God is above forms. God is nirakar (has no form), God is omnipotent, omnipresent.
Pragya was born in Dhatiya district in Madhya Pradesh. Then, I was in government service as a 'demonstrator' in the agriculture department and, at same time, I was practicing Ayurveda.
In our family money never got top prominence. From a religious point of view there are four stages of one's actions -- dharma (duty), artha (money), kama (desire), moksha (freedom from desires) -- in our lives. The sequence has changed in today's lives. Kama and artha are dominating our lives. As a child, Pragya was an innocent and straight-forward girl.
As you know, it is normal to talk to girls about their expectations from marriage, about her preference of to-be mother-in-law. Pragya used to get upset if we talked to her about marriage or any such things. She never liked talk of marriage and she never went to see movies.
She never liked film songs. When she came to understand the meaning of Hindi film songs she kept away from them. In her teenage years she would sit in silence and pray before Shankar and Durga Mata. In school she was an average student but after she passed tenth standard her intelligence quotient started increasing. She passed intermediate exams from Lahar village in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh and she did her BA in history from a Bhind college.

'My daughter Pragya is innocent'
November 12, 2008
In the first part of the interview, Dr Chandrapal Singh, father of Puranchetanand Giri, better known as Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, who was arrested by the Mumbai police's Anti Terrorist Squad in connection with the bomb blast in Malegaon, spoke of her growing up years and early influences.
Part I: My Daughter Sadhvi Pragnya
Dr Singh, a committed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker for the last 35 years, spoke to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt at his home in Surat [Images] about why he believes his daughter is innocent.
Excerpts from the second and final part of the interview.
"I encouraged Pragya to become a sadhvi because that is the real life. We are all suffering the results of falsehood. In the last two years she became a sadhvi and headed her own organisation called Jai Vande Mataram. It's active in helping women who have been converted to other religions by deceit. She also helps quarrelling couples by trying to build bridges between them. The entire Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad family was her family.
"Talking about the police, I can only say they are working under the political parties. They have to obey them 85 percent of the time. Later, they will apologise that they are forced to do certain things.
"During the Emergency I have seen it first hand. My name was on top of the police list. The government alleged that I was an anti-national, I belonged to an organisation that killed (Mahtama) Gandhi and that I am disturbing peace in society. The RSS asked me to go underground and I wasn't arrested.
"In the case of Pragya, we don't deny that she owned a motorcycle. Some four and a half years back Pragya had lost the registration papers and her degree certificates in Bhopal. She lost her purse when an autorikshaw hit her; she had a head injury. When she recovered she thought of getting rid of the motorcycle. One way was to prepare a new set of papers. When her colleagues at ABVP came to know that Didi wants to sell her motorcycle they came forward. Her one-year-old vehicle was worth Rs 43,000 and it was in a very good condition but they offered her only Rs 25,000. When the deal was closed, the buyer, Manoj Sharma, gave only Rs 24,000. He used to attend ABVP programmes and used to come to Surat also.
"We signed the papers. Some RTO fixer said they will help transfer the name. For four years the vehicle was not transferred in the buyer's name. Meanwhile the motorcycle was stolen from Sharma's home. Why did he not report to the police? Manoj claims it's because the motorcycle was not transferred in his name. He was targeted by SIMI [Images] and guys from the Church, also. A Christian member of the Congress was murdered and Manoj Sharma's name was inserted in that case. This is how the bike reached "that" camp. When the vehicle resurfaced in the (Malegaon) blast, the police could trace our house from the chassis number.
"On October 9, the Anti-Terrorism Squad's inspector Samant came to see me in Surat, in this house. He said he wanted to ask me some questions. I agreed. He asked me, "Where is this vehicle?" I said, "It's not mine. It belongs to my daughter. And some four years back it was sold." I asked him why is he asking all these things. He said he would tell me later.
"He asked me if I have my daughter's number. I didn't have it but I got it from someone. He talked to Pragya on the phone. She accepted that the motorcycle once belonged to her and it was sold. The inspector asked if she can come to Surat. Pragya came on October 12 from Madhya Pradesh [Images]. The police took her to Mumbai and kept her illegally in police custody for 12 days.
"I didn't complain. I believe that every citizen should help the process of law. I told the police that you may be very strict. I will be happy for that because it means that you are honest. I welcome you if you are honest. Why should I fear you? People who are guilty should be afraid of you. Why should I be afraid of you? Pragya told me, "Pitaji, my intention is not bad. I haven't done anything; I have never even imagined such a thing. Don't worry about me. You remain absolutely tension-free. I will return safe after managing this crisis. Trust me. Even if I am imprisoned I will come out without any blemishes".
"By the way, what is your definition of non-violence? When Gandhiji was asked about it, he had said that non-violence doesn't mean escapism. To protect "non-violence", even if we have to hit someone it can't be termed as "violence". Will you term Ram a violent person because he killed Ravana? However, to uphold nationalism you don't need to plant bombs. Pragya has Christian and Muslim friends. I believe in Hindu religion non-violence is valued above truth. I am confident that my daughter will come out unblemished. This is a made-up case to prepare the political climate .Have you heard anywhere that SIMI is wrong? People in power can do these things if they carry bad thoughts.
"I will ask you a counter-question. Do you think anyone who is involved will give her own bike to do such things? Those who indulge in terrorism, will they easily surrender when the ATS calls? When a relative went to see her in police custody Pragya asked him, "What was the need to come? Don't you trust me? Let the police do whatever they like. One day they will have to release me".
"Being a sadhvi she eats little food. She mixes rotis and subzis in one deep bowl and dilutes the taste before eating it.
"Now, I don't know how she is in jail. She is no more with ABVP because she heads her own organisation. She was never with the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Vishwa Hindu Parishad so if they deny any links with her they are not wrong. I have an association with the RSS but the RSS doesn't have swayamsevikas so in that sense she is not directly related to the RSS. (Gujarat Chief Minister) Narendra Modi [Images] has been associated with ABVP and Pragya has been a member of it, so they have met at a few events.
"I am not upset that some leaders have not come out in the open to support Pragya. Because, my daughter has not done anything wrong. When Christ was crucified he didn't ask for a saviour. He was less famous then, but today he is famous many times more.
"I am 99 percent sure that Pragya is not involved in the Malegaon blast case. I am not sure one percent only because since the last two years she was not visiting my home because sadhvis are not supposed to visit their parental home. She doesn't address me as pitaji and now calls me Doctor saab.
"I know she was dissatisfied with the blasts in India. She wanted everybody to be pragmatic. She wanted the people to think of the nation first. We believe that when India will become a Hindu Rashtra there will be no sin committed on this land. The Supreme Court says Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. But in Sanskrit it is said that a person who is opposing sin on the strength of divine beliefs is a Hindu. We are not yet true Hindus.
"The Sangh believes that if Muslims are doing something wrong we should explain to them that it is our collective loss. And, we believe there are enough Muslims in India who understand this.
"Bal Thackeray [Images]ji is not supporting my daughter; he is trying to unite Hindu votes. The same thing is done by the Congress. This is not fair. Thackeray is supporting Pragya to prepare his votebank and Congress is harassing Pragya to tell Muslims that they are their only protectors. Muslims know well the games the Congress plays.
"I don't need Modi's support. If I have done injustice, I will get punishment and I will be hanged. If I have not done any crime then even if Modi doesn't come to our rescue we will be saved. There is something called self-confidence. I haven't met Modi in a formal sense but we know each other well enough. I am an RSS worker and he is also one.
"I need only the support of God and society. If my daughter had done anything wrong she would have told me somehow. My daughter is not capable of hiding anything from me. She would have surely told me, "Even if I die, I will do this (planting of bombs)."
"I believe my daughter is innocent."