Didn’t become MP to clean toilets and drains, says Pragya Singh Thakur
Sehore, Jul 21: BJP MP from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur Sunday kicked up a controversy saying she has not become a lawmaker to clean drains or toilets, a statement the Congress said has "exposed" the "hollowness" of the BJP's flagship 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.
Addressing a meeting of BJP workers here in Madhya Pradesh, Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case who is currently out on bail, said the job of an MP is to work with MLAs, corporators and public representatives to ensure development.
"So keep this in mind...We are not here for cleaning a drain. Is it clear?. We are absolutely not (here) for cleaning your toilets. The work which we are supposed to do and elected for, we will do it honestly. This we had said in the past, saying it today and stick to it in future as well," said Thakur, who won her maiden election from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat by defeating Congress leader Digvijay Singh.
The Hindutva leader further said an MP should be told to do work befitting a parliamentarian.
"An MP's work is to join hands with MLAs, corporators and public representatives for development," she added.
"You got (my) phone number easily and rang (me) up.." Thakur said while referring to a call she had received, apparently from a party worker, when she was in Delhi recently.
Thakur said she would give a "patient hearing" to the workers once the Parliamentary sessions gets over.
"Whatever the problem is it will be resolved. The funds we get (as an MP) will be used for public good," she said.
The ruling Congress in Madhya Pradesh has criticised Thakur's statement.
"Thakur's statement speaks about the BJP and the so-called concern its MPs have had towards the problems faced by people," state Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said.
She said Thakur's statement has "exposed" the "hollowness" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.
Thakur is not new to controversies.
In the run-to her Lok Sabha elections, she had termed Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse a "patriot".
She had also claimed that the then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks due to her "curse".
Her statement on Godse had evoked strong rebuke from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had said that he would never forgive her for insulting the Father of the Nation.
#WATCH BJP MP from Bhopal, Pragya Thakur in Sehore: Hum naali saaf karwane ke liye nahi bane hain. Hum aapka shauchalaya saaf karne ke liye bilkul nahi banaye gaye hain. Hum jis kaam ke liye banaye gaye hain, vo kaam hum imaandaari se karenge. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/VT4pcGKkYx
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2019
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
