Another BJP leader goes controversial on Hemant Karkare, deletes tweet later

Rajendra Agarwal, who is sitting MP from Meerut seat, in a Twitter post said: "Martyr Hemant Karkare was such an ATS chief who went to challenge the terrorists without preparation and his vehicle was snatched by the attackers and used in their activities."

Rajendra Agarwal. Photo: Facebook

NEW DELHI: A BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh stoked a controversy with his remark on former Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, saying the IPS officer went to challenge the terrorists without preparation. Rajendra Agarwal, sitting MP from Meerut seat, in a Twitter post said: "Martyr Hemant Karkare was such an ATS chief who went to challenge the terrorists without preparation and his vehicle was snatched by the attackers and used in their activities." However, Agarwal, who is also the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Meerut, deleted the tweet minutes later and claimed someone else "misused" his Twitter handle to post about Karkare.

शहीद हेमंत करकरे से संबंधित ट्वीट मैंने नहीं डाला किसी ने मेरे ट्विटर हैंडल का दुरुपयोग किया l

— Chowkidar Rajendra Agrawal (@MP_Meerut) April 19, 2019

This comes a day after Malegaon blast accused and BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur said Karkare*died during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she "cursed" him for torturing her. The comments triggered a major outcry, with parties like the Congress, AAP and AIMIM, besides the Indian Police Service Association, condemning her remarks. Amid the outrage, Thakur on Friday retracted her statement hours after the BJP distanced itself from controversial remark saying it was her personal view. In the evening, Thakur said, "It was my personal pain. I take back my statement and apologise." She said she was taking back her remarks as she "felt that the enemies of the country are being benefited" from it. She said Karkare was a "martyr" who died from the bullets of terrorists from the enemy country. Thakur, who is out on bail after serving over nine years in jail in connection with the September 29, 2008 blast in Maharashtra's Malegaon in which six people were killed and nearly 100 injured, recounted at a public meeting here the episode of her arrest and interrogation in the case. The 48-year-old, who has a long association with the Sangh Parivar, claimed that when she was in a Mumbai jail, the head of the probe had called Karkare and said that she should be released as there was "no evidence" against her. "Then Karkare asked me various questions and I replied 'God knows'. At this, Karkare asked whether he would have to go to the God to get the answers. Then, I told him that he would be destroyed and he was cursed... within a month and a half, he fell victim to the terrorists' bullets," said Thakur. Karkare was killed on the night of November 26, 2008 when 10 terrorists from Pakistan struck Mumbai at various places. "Hindus believe that a period of one and a half month after anyone's birth or death is of ritual impurity. When Karkare asked me these questions, this period started for him and ended with him being killed by the terrorists," she said.