Row over Maharashtra Cong. leader’s comment on Karkare
Maharashtra Leader of the Opposition and Congressman Vijay Wadettiwar stirred a hornets’ nest after he alleged that a police ofcer a¢liated to the RSS, and not terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, had killed former State Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Mr. Wadettiwar’s remark drew sharp criticism from the ruling BJP and the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with ruling party leaders accusing Mr. Wadettiwar of driving Pakistan’s agenda and the Congress of trying to give a “clean chit” to Pakistan.
Mr. Wadettiwar had targeted high-prole lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who has been elded by the BJP as the Mahayuti’s candidate for the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking in Kolhapur on Sunday, Mr. Wadettiwar said his remarks were based on the book Who killed Karkare? by former top police o¢cer S.M. Mushrif.
Accusing the Congress of insulting martyred heroes of the Mumbai terror strike, BJP State president Chandrashekhar Bawankule
said such remarks suggested that the Congress was conspiring to help Pakistan.
Calling Mr. Wadettiwar’s remarks “shocking” and “unbelievable”, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said it was small wonder that “Pakistan is praying for Congress” and that Rahul Gandhi was once again putting vote bank politics above national interest by casting aspersions “on patriots like Ujjwal Nikam”.
Likewise, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Milind Deora called Mr. Wadettiwar’s statement “shameful”.
“During the 26/11 attacks, I witnessed the pain the people of India had to witness. Why are they [the Congress] trying to appease Pakistan?,” said Mr. Deora.