In a landmark judgment, a special NIA court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur. The verdict has not only ended a 17-year-long legal saga but also ignited fierce political debate, with BJP leaders slamming the Congress for allegedly coining the term “saffron terrorism.”

The court stated that while it was established a blast occurred in Malegaon, the prosecution failed to prove that the bomb was planted on the motorcycle connected to the accused. Discrepancies in witness statements and medical reports, along with lack of conclusive forensic links, led to the acquittals.

BJP: ‘Congress Framed Hindus for Votes’

Reacting sharply to the verdict, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey declared, “A Hindu cannot be a terrorist. All the terrorists in this country have only one religion.” He accused the previous UPA government of falsely implicating Hindus for political mileage, and condemned what he called a "fabricated narrative" of saffron terror.

“Congress did the dirty work of spreading the term ‘saffron terrorism’… Instead of catching Pakistani terrorists, they accused our own people,” Dubey said, demanding that the party be held accountable for misleading the nation.

Dinesh Sharma: ‘Rahul and Priyanka Should Apologize’

Echoing the sentiment, BJP MP and former UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma described the judgment as a “victory of truth.” He claimed that Pragya Thakur and her co-accused were victims of a political conspiracy to malign Hindu saints and organizations.

“This is a big day… the term ‘saffron terrorism’ was used to defame Sanatan Dharma,” Sharma stated. He also demanded that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi apologize publicly for promoting what he called a "politically motivated falsehood."

Background: A Blast, a Narrative, and 17 Years of Legal Battles

The Malegaon blast on September 29, 2008, killed six people and injured over 100 near a mosque in Bhikku Chowk. The incident occurred during Ramadan and was initially believed to be the work of Islamic terror outfits. However, the investigation later took a controversial turn when individuals linked to Hindu groups were arrested.

The NIA court, however, ruled that the evidence was insufficient to establish a clear link between the accused and the bombing, and also noted procedural lapses, including issues with medical documentation and sanction for prosecution under UAPA.