'Kasab Didn't Kill Karkare..': Congress Leader's Remarks On 26/11 Sparks Row

‘kasab didn’t kill karkare..’: congress leader’s remarks on 26/11 sparks row

Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress leader, Vijay Wadettiwar’s remarks on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and the death of police officer Hemant Karkare sparked a massive outrage by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday. Wadettiwar claimed that terrorist Ajmal Kasab “did not kill Karkare,” instead he was killed by the RSS-affiliated police officer.

He said, “During the 26/11, Hemant Karkare was not shot by Kasab.” He alleged that he was shot by a police officer as instructed by the Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangh(RSS). “Public prosecutor Advocate, Ujjawal Nikam was aware of this fact yet he chose to hide it,” added Vijay.

Accusing Ujjwal Nikam, the government’s lawyer in the 26/11 case and a BJP candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, of being a traitor for suppressing this information, Wadettiwar’s comments faced severe criticism from various quarters.

Later he clarified his statement about Karkare’s death, saying it was based on a book written by retired police officer SM Mushrif titled “Who Killed Karkare.” He also expressed disappointment with the lack of morality in contemporary politics, stating, “There is no morality in today’s politics. People who are in politics for power will sell the country off.”

The BJP strongly condemned Wadettiwar’s remarks, accusing the Congress of giving a clean chit to Pakistan regarding the 26/11 attacks. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala slammed the Congress party for allegedly prioritising vote bank politics over national interest and questioned their support for various controversial figures.

“Shocking and unbelievable…No wonder Pakistan is praying for Congress and Rahul. Congress is again putting Votebank Rajniti above Rashtraniti. After crying for Batla, Afzal, Yakub, and Naxals, labeling them Shaheed now doubting patriots like Ujjwal Nikam & clean chit to Pak!” Poonawala said.

The BJP legal cell in Nagpur filed a complaint against Wadettiwarm, calling his remarks “shameful and derogatory.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also condemned Wadettiwar’s statement, while Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis drew a contrast between the BJP’s association with Ujjwal Nikam and the Congress’s alleged alignment with Kasab.

Fadnavis alleged that the opposition “is worried about Ajmal Kasab” and wants to support terrorists by targeting Nikam. “The Congress is claiming Ujjwal Nikam insulted Kasab. Kasab terrorised the city and the Congress was worried about Kasab.

Mahayuti is supporting Ujjwal Nikam and MVA is supporting Kasab. Now you decide who you should vote for,” he said.

Former Congress leader Milind Deora, who was the South Mumbai MP during the 2008 terror attack, called Wadettiwar’s statement “very shameful” and recalled the pain experienced during that time. Deora also mentioned a book released by Congress leaders that shifted attention away from Pakistan’s involvement in the attack, titled “26/11 RSS ki sazish.”