Rahul Gandhi stands by his tweet on Pragya Thakur

New Delhi: Earlier in the House, she had said she respects and pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi for his contribution to the country. Ms Thakur also said: “One member has publicly termed me a terrorist, though I have not been convicted by the court... It is an insult to a woman and a sadhvi,” and added that making such remarks too was against the law. Thakur is an accused in the Malegaon blast case.

Embarrassed by her remarks, the BJP’s top leadership summoned Thakur on Friday morning. In Parliament, BJP working president J.P. Nadda and parliamentary affairs minister Prahlad Joshi met her, after which it was decided she would read the statement in the Lok Sabha. At this meeting, sources said, it was also decided she will move a breach of privilege notice to the Speaker against Rahul Gandhi for calling her a “terrorist”.

Sources said Ms Thakur later moved a privilege notice against Gandhi in the Lok Sabha for calling her a “terrorist”. The Speaker will later take a call on whether to admit the notice.

Outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi brushed aside Ms Thakur’s attack on him and asserted that he stood by his remarks accusing her of being a “terrorist”. He said he was ready to face any action.