Arrest anti-national and pro-Muslim terrorist Digvijay Singh immediately: BJP

Clarify stand on Digvijay’s remarks on Karkare: BJP to PM, Sonia

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/clarify-stand-on-digvijays-remarks-on-karkare-bjp-to-pm-sonia/723381/0

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday slammed Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh for his “irresponsible statement” on slain Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare, saying it was a “serious blow” to India’s fight against terror and was an attempt to divert attention from scams facing the UPA government.

The party also demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on their stand over Singh’s comments.

BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad strongly condemned Singh’s “unfortunate” remarks yesterday that Karkare had informed him about the pressure from certain Hindu organisations as he was investigating cases allegedly involving Hindu terror groups.

“The country’s security, fight against terror and investigations into the 26/11 attacks case has suffered a serious blow due to Digvijay Singh’s comments. Terrorists from across the border will question the entire 26/11 attacks,” Prasad told reporters here.

“Terrorists from across the border and their patrons are going to lap it up,” he said.
He saw a “deliberate design” behind Singh’s comment, saying, “it is an attempt to distract the embattled UPA and Congress party, which is facing a barrage of corruption charges. Congress is finding itself seriously handicapped”.

The BJP leader alleged that Singh was making such statements to gain political mileage as he has been marginalised in the Congress. “He should find better ways to gain publicity and not make statements which harm national security,” he said.

Prasad maintained that Singh’s statement has given much leverage to terrorist elements like Taliban, Lashkar and ISI “who are saying, why are we being framed in 26/11 when a senior Congress leader is questioning the killing of Karkare”.

“Today, Digvijay has emboldened the terrorists across the border. He has not done this for the first time… After the Batla House encounter, he had visited Azamgarh (to meet families of the accused) and now he is indirectly helping terrorists from across the border, who will question the 26/11 attacks,” Prasad said.

In Ayodhya, BJP vice-president Vinay Katiyar said Digvijay’s remarks had weakened India’s position on the Mumbai terror attack case.

On the contrary, such remarks would only strengthen Pakistani claims on the matter, he said.
Advising the Congress leader to seek medical aid, Katiyar said he was trying to emerge as new Arjun Singh in the Congress by issuing such statements.

Later, speaking in Faizabad, Katiyar demanded arrest of Digvijay, accusing him of visiting the house of Mohammad Shahnawaz, whose name has cropped up in some media reports in connection with the Varanasi blast.

“Digvijay Singh during his last visit to Sanjarpur in Azamgarh had spent three hours at Shahnawaz’s residence. I strongly demand that the Uttar Pradesh government should arrest Digvijay Singh immediately and he must be interrogated for having links with the Varanasi blast accused,” he said.

Asked about reports of involvement of Shahnawaz, brother of IM foot soldier Mohammed Saif who was arrested in the Batla House encounter in September 19, 2008, and other youths from Azamgarh in the Varanasi blast, UP ADG (Law and Order) had earlier this week said it was premature to say anything.

“During Digvijay’s visit he had said that he came there with the permission of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, so by his statement he has created suspicions for Sonia and Rahul,” alleged Katiyar.

Shiv Sena slams Digvijay

Shiv Sena today criticised senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh for his statement that slain Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare had received threats from those critical of his probe into the Malegaon bomb blast.

In a statement, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said Singh’s statements were condemnable and warranted a detailed probe.

“If Karkare’s life was under threat, why did he speak only to Singh and not to the then Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister?” Raut said.

He said Singh’s comments confirm the belief that Congress leaders were controlling the Malegaon blast probe and it was being done to malign Hindu groups.

“If it is true that Karkare had spoken to Singh, why did the Congress General Secretary hide the information for two years?” the Sena MP said.

“It should be made public what else did the two talk about. Singh should be subjected to a probe,” he said.

The Sena leader also said why had Singh never called up Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar, the other two police officers who were killed in the 26/11 attacks.

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