Gandhinagar

Gujarat government today appointed Jagruti Pandya, wife of slain BJP leader Haren Pandya, as the new chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

She will have a three-year tenure, notification issued by the Social Justice and Empowerment Department said.

Reacting to the development, Jagruti, who had contested 2012 Assembly election against a BJP candidate, said she was never against the party.

She had joined Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), formed by former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel ahead of 2012 elections. The party merged with BJP in 2014.

Jagruti had contested from Ellisbridge, her late husband’s constituency, on GPP ticket in 2012, losing to BJP’s Rakesh Shah.

“Neither I nor my husband were against BJP. I only fought to get justice for my husband. Even Keshubhai is now with BJP. So there is no question of having any differences with the party,” Jagruti told PTI.

Asked if she would now join the ruling party, she said, “I will let you know when I take that decision.”

Haren Pandya, who was a minister in Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government in 2002, was shot dead by two assailants near the Law Garden area of Ahmedabad on March 26, 2003.

Gujarat High Court later acquitted all the 12 accused arrested in the case by the CBI.

PTI