Denying any role of her outfit in terror activities, Himani Savarkar, chief of the radical Hindu outfit Abhinav Bharat, on Friday said that the leaders of her organisation remained in touch with BJP leaders as well as top brass of several right-wing organisations.
Talking exclusively to this newspaper, Ms Savarkar said, “We remain in touch with BJP leaders as well as leaders of right-wing outfits and some of them had attended meetings of Abhinav Bharat in the past also. There is nothing wrong in it. Abhinav Bharat is not a terrorist organisation at all.” She asserted that Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, both members of Abhinav Bharat and suspects in 2006 Malegaon blasts, were innocent.
Ms Savarkar further said: “We should not be labelled as terrorists if the members of Abhinav Bharat talk about ‘Akhand Hindustan’ in this country. Nobody can prevent us from creating awareness among the Hindus in this country. We are not committing any crime.” Those who are levelling allegations against our members must come out with evidence, she said, adding that she was “aware of the picture which officials of the CBI or ATS of other states are trying to paint”. There is nothing wrong in taking guidance or suggestions from some BJP leaders or senior leaders of right wing outfits, she added.
Unfazed by the allegations on the outfit that some of its members were allegedly involved in terror blasts such as Ajmer, Mecca and Malegaon blasts, she said, “Abhinav Bharat has now decided to organise Hindu Jagaran meetings in several parts of the country. Our organisation will soon chalk out a plan in this regard”. Elaborating on her meeting with Malegaon suspect Sadhvi Pragya Thakur during a court hearing in Mumbai, she said, “Her health is not good. She also told me that Abhinav Bharat should organise meetings in different parts of the country to create awareness among Hindus.”
Ms Savarkar claimed that Pragya Thakur told her that such meetings should be organised more frequently.
Denying allegations that the persons recently arrested in connection with Ajmer and Mecca Masjid blasts by Rajasthan ATS have links with her organisation, Ms Savarkar said, “I don’t even know Devendra Gupta, Chandrashekhar Patidar and Vishnu Patidar arrested by Rajasthan ATS.” It has become a regular practice of the investigating agencies to level such allegations, she said. “Whoever is arrested in connection with Malegaon or other blasts in the country, the officials blindly link them with Abhinav Bharat,” she said.
“The investigating agencies are free to question hundreds of people in connection with the investigation of blast cases. But where does the question of involvement of Abhinav Bharat arise?” she asked.