Antulay raises doubts over Karkare’s killing, backtracks
Says he never talked about who killed ATS chief, but about who sent him in the wrong direction
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 17
Under severe criticism from the Opposition BJP and Shiv Sena, minority affairs minister A.R. Antulay made an attempt to set aside his earlier remarks on the killing of Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare by saying that he had not talked about who killed Karkare but about who sent him in the wrong direction on that fateful day.

Earlier in the day, Antulay had raised doubts on whether Pakistani terrorists killed the ATS chief, in a way suggesting it could be due to his ongoing investigation of the Malegaon blasts.

His doubts over the killing of Karkare, suggesting a link with the Malegaon blasts, kicked off a major controversy that managed to not just provide ready made ammunition to the Opposition to bombard the Congress-led UPA government but also left quite a few red faces within his own party.

After the BJP and Shiv Sena came out in strong critcism and his own party distanced itself from his remarks, calling them his personal views, Antulay changed stand to wriggle out of his controversial remarks by saying that he had not talked about who killed Karkare but who sent him in the wrong direction on that fateful day.

“Who had sent them to Cama hospital where he and two other officers were killed by Pakistani terrorists on November 26. What were they told that made them leave for the same spot in the same vehicle. I repeat what I had said. I had not said who had killed them but only questioned who had sent them there in that direction,” he said.

Earlier in the day, maintaining that there is more than what meets the eyes, Antulay said that Karkare was investigating some cases in which non-muslims were involved, an apparent reference to the Malegaon blasts. “Superficially speaking, they (terrorists) had no reason to kill Karkare. Whether he (Karkare) was just a victim of terror or something (else), I don’t know,” Antulay said in the morning .

“Karkare was a very bold officer. I know his acumen was great. He had vision and was prepare to lay down life for country at any time. Now how come instead of going to the Taj (Hotel) or the Oberoi (Hotel) he went to such a place where there was nothing,” Antulay questioned.

Opposition parties were quick to attack the minister, demanding immediate clarification from the Prime Minister while the Congress termed them as his personal remarks. Reacting to Antulay’s remarks, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said they should be treated his personal views. “The Congress does not agree with them and does not support such a formulation,” Singhvi said.

Though Singhvi did add that there was no question of embarrassment to the party, the fact that Antulay had to deny making the statement on the very same day shows the effect the minister’s remarks had on the party.

Slamming Antulay’s statements, the BJP wanted the Prime Minister to clarify whether his remarks are an “individual misdemeanour or the collective wisdom of the Cabinet”. “The remarks are obnoxious and deserve a clarification from the Prime Minister,” said BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Shiv Sena member Anant Geete raised the issue in the Lok Sabha and said while entire country was speaking in one voice on terror, a union minister was speaking in this fashion. Samajwadi Party MP Amar Aingh said a senior leader like Antulay should, before issuing any statement, uphold cherished tradition of collective wisdom of the Cabinet.