New Delhi, April 19:Known for making insidious and controversial statements, BJP’s Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, also a prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, on Friday said former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare, who died in action during the Mumbai terror attacks, was because of his “karma”.
Recounting that the late ATS chief Karkare “tortured her and treated her very badly” she said: “Maine kaha tera (Hemant Karkare) sarvanash hoga.Theek sava mahine mein sutak lagta hai. Jis din main gayi thi us din iske sutak lag gaya tha. Aur theek sava mahine mein jis din atankwadiyon ne isko maara, us din uska anth hua.”Broadly it implied that because Karkare “falsely implicated her [in Malegaon blasts] and treated her very badly, “she cursed him and he died of his karma.”
Later, standing by what she said, she told reporters that whatever she said “is prompted by her God”.With rivals gunning for the BJP, it remains to be seen how the saffron party douses the latest controversy generated by its controversial Bhopal candidate.
The BJP is already under fire for fielding Sadhvi Pragya, who is out on bail due to her health conditions.
Six people were killed and over 100 injured in a bomb blast at Malegaon on September 29, 2008.
Hemant Karkare, who was probing the Malegaon blasts, tracked down the owner of the motorcycle, which was used in the attacks.
The motorcycle belonged to Sadhvi Pragya.
The ATS arrested her and others in the case, alleging that they were part of a Hindu extremist group, which carried out the blast.
In May 2016, the NIA gave a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya. Sadhvi Pragya has been fielded against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.
