Vijay Wadettiwar. File.
| Photo Credit: Vivek Bendre
Maharashtra Leader of Opposition and Congressman Vijay Wadettiwar stirred a hornet’s nest after he alleged {that a} police officer affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and not terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, had killed former State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare in the course of the 2008 Mumbai terror assaults.
Mr. Wadettiwar’s comment drew sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with ruling get together leaders accusing Mr. Wadettiwar of driving Pakistan’s agenda and the Congress of making an attempt to give a “clean chit” to Pakistan.
Mr. Wadettiwar had focused high-profile lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who has been fielded by the BJP because the Mahayuti’s candidate for the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, the place he’s pitted in opposition to the Congress Mumbai unit chief Varsha Gaikwad.
Mr. Nikam was the particular public prosecutor in a few of greatest terror and crime circumstances to have rattled Maharashtra and the nation, together with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the trial of Kasab within the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai assaults.
“The bullet that killed Hemant Karkare was not that of terrorists like Ajmal Kasab, but by a police officer close to the RSS. Ujjwal Nikam is a traitor who suppressed this fact and the BJP has given an election ticket to a traitor like him,” Mr. Wadettiwar had alleged.
Speaking in Kolhapur on Sunday, Mr. Wadettiwar stated his remarks had been being given a political color whereas clarifying that his statements had been primarily based on the e book Who killed Karkare? by former high police officer S.M. Mushrif.
“I just quoted what was written in the book by S.M. Mushrif. Every bit of information was there about the bullet which killed Hemant Karkare. And, it was not the bullet of the terrorists,” Mr. Wadettiwar stated.
Accusing the Congress of insulting martyred heroes of the Mumbai terror strike, BJP State president Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated such remarks steered that the Congress was conspiring to assist Pakistan.
“How low will the Congress stoop to go to get votes in elections? Do they now take the side of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks terrorist Ajmal Kasab to oppose the BJP? Have some shame. The Congress has no issues. They are now insulting our martyred police officers,” Mr. Bawankule stated, warning that the general public would give the Congress a becoming reply within the coming election.
“Ever since Modiji came to power, the back of such terrorists was broken, but today the Congress is shedding tears for terrorists. When the Maha Vikas Aghadi [MVA] was in power in Maharashtra, Yakub Memon’s [1993 Mumbai blast accused] grave was beautified. Now, they are giving Kasab a clean-chit,” stated the BJP leader.
Calling Mr. Wadettiwar’s remarks “shocking” and “unbelievable”, BJP nationwide spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala stated it was small marvel that “Pakistan is praying for Congress” and that Rahul Gandhi was as soon as once more placing vote financial institution politics above nationwide curiosity by casting aspersions “on patriots like Ujjwal Nikam.”
Likewise, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Milind Deora known as Mr. Wadettiwar’s assertion “shameful.”
“During the 26/11 attacks, I witnessed the pain, suffering and terror that the people of South Mumbai, Maharashtra and India had to witness. Why are they [the Congress] trying to appease Pakistan and blame one from the community? A responsible leader from an Opposition party is making this statement for the second time from the same party and giving a clean chit to Pakistan,” stated Mr. Deora, who had not too long ago stop the Congress and joined Mr. Shinde’s Shiv Sena.