'Kasab did not kill Hemant Karkare, RSS-linked linked cop did': Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar

Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar landed in soup after his statement where he alleged that IPS officer Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorist Ajmal Kasab but by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated cop, reports said. Karkare was the chief of Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad who was killed during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

According to media reports, Wadettiwar further said that the Ujjawal Nikam, who represented the government in the 26/11 case, was a traitor and suppressed the truth. Interestingly, BJP has fielded Nikam from the Mumbai North Central constituency in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.  Speaking to reporters, he said, "During 26/11, Hemant Karkare was not shot by Kasab. A police officer shot him on the instructions of RSS. Public Prosecutor Adv. Ujjwal Nikam knew this yet chose to hide this fact."

Wadettiwar received flak for his comments which spread like wildfire. Following this, he clarified that his statement was an excerpt which had been taken from the book 'Who Killed Karkare' by SM Mushrif. He said, "Those are not my words, I just said what was written in the book by SM Mushrif. Every information was there about the bullet by which Hemant Karkare was shot, it was not the bullet of terrorists." 

Shiv Sena's Milind Deora, other leaders react to Wadettiwar's statement

Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora said that such remarks made by Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly are shameful and the opposition party is busy giving 'clean chit to the Pakistan'.  "It is a very shameful statement. During the 26/11 attack. I saw the pain, suffering and terror that the people of South Mumbai, Maharashtra and India had to witness. Why are they trying to appease Pakistan and blame one community? As an Indian, 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," Milind Deora

On his remarks that BJP candidate Ujjwal Nikam during his days as special public prosecutor saved the cop and suppressed the evidence before the court, Wadettiwar quoted former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh saying that he should not take credit for the hanging of Ajmal Kasab as even a junior level lawyer could have achieved it. "Deshmukh Sahab said that no one should be bragging about the success of Kasab being given capital punishment as he was a terrorist and even a junior lawyer at Taluka Level dealing with petty bail matters could also have secured capital punishment for Kasab in the 26/11 terror case. So Ujjwal Nikam should not claim credit for Kasab's conviction," he said.

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that nothing more can be expected from people who have always worked against the interest of the country. "Unfortunately, a person who has lived up to protecting the Constitution and democracy in this country is being accused of such baseless allegations. People who have always worked against the interests of the country. What else do we expect from such people?" he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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