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Karkare's
widow slams Digvijay's comment
Kavita Karkare,
widow of slain Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant
Karkare, Saturday slammed Congress leader Digvijay Singh for
claiming that Karkare called him
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Mumbai/New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh Saturday stirred a fresh
controversy with a claim that Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief
Hemant Karkare had, in a telephobne call hours before being killed
in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, said to him that Hindu groups
had threatened him. Karkare's widow and the BJP slammed Singh's
remarks, while an uncomfortable Congress said they were Singh's
"personal" comments.
Singh said that Karkare called him up a few hours before he was
killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and told him about
threats from Hindu organisations as he was probing the Malegaon
blast case in which some Hindu groups were allegedly involved.
Hemant Karkare's widow Kavita speaking to reporters Saturday,
asserted that "no Hindu outfit" was connected with her husband's
killing. "Pakistani terrorists killed my husband, Digvijay Singh
is wrong."
"Do not link his death with threats from Hindu organisations. The
statement can mislead people," she added.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad,
reacting to Singh's remarks, said: "His comments are unfortunate,
and we condemn it."
"The country's security, fight against terror and investigations
into the 26/11 attacks case have suffered a serious blow due to
Digvijay Singh's comments. Terrorists from across the border will
question the entire 26/11 attacks," Prasad told reporters in New
Delhi.
"Terrorists from across the border and their patrons are going to
lap it up," he said.
Prasad also alleged that Singh was making such statements to gain
political mileage.
"He should not compromise with the country's security, and he is
the one who went to Azamgarh (in Uttar Pradesh) and fetched a lot
of criticism, and the Congress had to apologise," Prasad said
about Digvijay Singh.
Singh had gone to Azamgarh where many of those involved in the
Sept 13, 2008, Delhi serial bombings belonged and spoke to their
families.
The Congress, attempting to wriggle out of the controversy, said
Singh's remarks were of "personal" nature as Singh and Karkare
knew each other.
"Digvijay Singh and Hemant Karkare knew each other personally
because of their Madhya Pradesh connection. Their talks were also
personal and I suppose he (Singh) has not made these comments as
spokesperson of the party. Definitely, the party would not like to
comments on this," Congress spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi told
reporters.
Karkare hailed from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
Dwivedi said the "private conversation" between the two was made
public by Singh in a programme and the party has no role into it.
"Hence, only he can comment on it. The party has nothing to say on
it," the party spokesperson added.
Speaking to reporters Saturday, Singh said that Karkare was
"pained" over criticism by some BJP leaders of his (Karkare's)
role in probing the alleged involvement of some Hindu groups in
the Malegaon blast.
"I came to know of the criticism... Rajnath Singh and others were
putting questions on his credibility. He was pained," Singh said.
Earlier too, Singh has created controversies with his comments -
questioning the Batla House shootout with terrorists after the Sep
13, 2008, serial bombings in New Delhi, visiting Azamgarh, and
questioning the home minister's handling of the Maoist problem as
a security issue.
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