BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has launched a strong attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, accusing them of pushing an “anti-Hindu agenda” in the aftermath of Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit’s reinstatement as Colonel in the Indian Army.

Bhandari, posting on X, shared a picture of Purohit back in uniform, writing:

“After 17 years of harassment and 8 years in jail without evidence, Lt Col Shrikant Purohit is finally restored as Colonel. But because of Rahul Gandhi & Congress’ anti-Hindu agenda, a brilliant officer was denied his rightful rise to Major General.”

Lt Col Purohit, who was recently acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, endured one of India’s most prolonged terror trials. On July 31, an NIA special court acquitted all seven accused, including Purohit, bringing closure to a case that had shadowed his life and career for nearly two decades.

The Malegaon blast occurred on September 29, 2008, when a motorcycle bomb detonated near Hamidia Masjid in Nashik district’s Malegaon town, killing six people and injuring 101 others. Initially investigated by Maharashtra’s ATS, the case was transferred to the NIA in 2011.

Investigators had alleged Purohit’s links with Abhinav Bharat, a trust meant to promote Hindu values but accused of conspiring to target Muslims. He was charged with raising funds and facilitating meetings to plot the attack. However, the court found no credible evidence, acquitting him after years of legal and personal struggle.

Despite his acquittal, the prolonged trial devastated Purohit’s military career. Experts note that, under normal circumstances, his service track record could have taken him to the rank of Major General. Instead, he will retire in March 2026 as a Colonel—his promotion reinstated only after his name was cleared.

Bhandari accused the Congress government of “appeasement politics at the cost of national pride,” claiming that ideological vendetta robbed the Army of a capable officer’s leadership.