Pragya Thakur, a Bharatiya Janata Party MP, advised Hindus on Sunday to keep weapons in their homes.
“Keep weapons in your homes, if nothing else, keep knives used to cut vegetables sharp,” Thakur said in a video that quickly went viral on social media.
“Don’t know what crisis will arise when–Everyone has the right to protect themselves. If someone breaks into our house and attacks us, we have the right to respond,” she said.
Thakur, who represents the Bhopal constituency, made the comments while speaking at the Hindu Jagarana Vedike’s South Region annual convention in Shivamogga.
“They(Muslims) have a long history of jihad. If they don’t receive anything, they’ll resort to love jihad. Even when they love, they commit jihad. We (Hindus) do as well. We admire God. A sanyasi is devoted to God. However, a sanyasi claims that in this world created by God, all oppressors, wrongdoers, and sinners must be eliminated or else the genuine definition of love will perish. Respond similarly to individuals participating in love jihad,” said Thakur.
“Protect your girls and instil good principles in them.”
Pragya Thakur then advised parents against educating their children in Christian missionary-run institutions.
“You will open old age homes for yourselves,” said Thakur.
“The children will not be yours or your culture’s. They become greedy as a result of the culture of old age homes,” she said.
“Perform pujas at home, read about your dharma [religion] and shastra [scripture], and teach your children about it, so that children understand our culture and values,” she added.
Pragya Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bombings where 10 people were killed and 82 more were injured. She was arrested on terror charges after her bike was found to be used in the bomb blast. She is currently under trial for multiple charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In 2017 she was granted bail on health grounds following the dropping of some of the serious charges by the National Investigation Agency.