New Delhi [India], July 31 : BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Thursday slammed the Congress party, saying that the NIA Court verdict in the 2008 Malegaon Blast case is a "slap" on the face of the Congress Party.
Speaking to ANI, Jyoti claimed that the Congress shed tears when terrorists died.
She said that Congress had "defamed the Sadhu community" and framed innocent people under false charges.
"Congress connived and called this incident 'saffron terrorism'. Those who died in the blast did not get justice, the terrorists were not caught, and an attempt was made to defame the Sadhu community completely," she said.
"This verdict has been a slap on the face for Congress... Congress sheds tears when terrorists die. By making false allegations, not only did they accuse seven people, but also tortured them to make them falsely confess to a crime they did not commit..." Sadhvi Jyoti said.
The remark came after the Mumbai Special National Investigative Agency Court (NIA) today acquitted all seven accused of being involved in the 2008 blasts in Malegaon, with the court saying the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The verdict has sparked reactions from spiritual leaders and political parties across the country.
Spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya said that Congress could not collect any evidence, and legal action should be taken against them.
"This has exposed Congress. They could not collect any evidence... We won today and all the acquitted must collectively file a defamation suit against Congress and there should be legal action against them..."Hindus can never be terrorists, take a look at the history..." he said.
While BJP leaders welcomed the judgment and demanded an apology from Congress, opposition parties said that the verdict was intended to suppress the big news of the US announcing the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on India.
On September 29 2008, six people were killed and 95 others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City's Bhikku Chowk. Originally, 11 people were accused in the case; however, the court ultimately framed charges against 7, including former MP Sadhvi Pragya.
The lawyer representing the victims' families said that he will be challenging the acquittal of the seven people in the High Court.