In a politically charged development, maharashtra Chief minister devendra fadnavis has strongly defended the acquittal of bjp mp Pragya Singh Thakur in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, stating, “Terrorism was never saffron, and it never will be.”

Fadnavis made the statement following the court’s decision to acquit Thakur from the charges linked to the Malegaon blasts that killed six and injured over 100. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court cited lack of evidence in releasing her from the trial—an outcome that has reignited debates around the controversial term “saffron terror.”

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, fadnavis said, “The narrative of saffron terror was a politically motivated attack against Hindutva ideologies. Today’s verdict is not just a legal relief for pragya thakur but a moral victory for all those who were defamed without basis.”

The Malegaon blasts, which took place in the Nashik district of maharashtra in september 2008, became one of the first high-profile cases in which individuals associated with right-wing Hindu groups were accused of carrying out acts of terrorism. pragya thakur, then a little-known activist, was arrested in 2008 and spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2017. She later contested and won the lok sabha election from bhopal on a bjp ticket in 2019.

The opposition, however, has voiced deep concern over the acquittal. Several congress leaders and activists have questioned the investigation process and the messaging that the verdict might send. congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, “This is a dark day for justice. We hope the victims of Malegaon will not be forgotten amidst political narratives.”

Meanwhile, fadnavis dismissed the criticism, urging all parties to “respect the judiciary” and stop politicizing terror investigations. He emphasized that the bjp had always stood against terrorism in all forms and would continue to do so, “without labeling it with any religion or color.”
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Sindujaa D N

31/07/2025 07:05 PM