Narendra Modi has opened up on the controversial Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, the monk who has been accused of plotting the Malegaon bomb blasts of 2008. The terror-accused, who is facing charges under the UAPA Act, is contesting from Bhopal on a BJP ticket.

What made the BJP give the ticket to Sadhvi? Answering this question, the Prime Minister today said, "A civilization that has promoted the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (all world is family) for last 5000 years was branded as terrorists (by some forces). Sadhvi Pragya's candidature is a symbol to answer all those who did this (branding)."

Modi's justification has drawn a range of reactions. If some are of the view that the argument is silly, others say that it was bold of him.