Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 5 : After Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar stoked controversy by claiming that former ATS chief Hemant Karkare was "not killed by terrorists during the 26/11 attack but by a police official close to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh", 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 told ANI.
After the outrage, Vijay Wadettiwar issued a clarification, saying that these are not his words and it has been mentioned in the book authored by SM Mushrif, a former Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra.
"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," he said.
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.
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) Secretary and Spokesperson, Kiran Pawaskar on Saturday criticized state opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar for allegedly making "disparaging comments" regarding the candidacy of advocate Ujjwal Nikam.
Shiv Sena alleged that in the video, Wadettiwar was making disrespectful remarks about the valiant policemen who sacrificed their lives during the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Pawaskar strongly rebuked Wadettiwar's statements, emphasizing that the track record of the Congress suggests the promotion of terrorism rather than its prevention.
"The Congress is not a party that prevents terrorism, but promotes it," he said. He further lamented the silence of Uddhav Thackeray, former Maharashtra Chief Minister, on this matter, insinuating a reluctance to address the issue for fear of upsetting certain communities.
Hemant Karkare was the chief of the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad. He was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In 2009, he was posthumously given the Ashoka Chakra.