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| Antulay backtracks |
| BS Reporter / New Delhi Dec 24, 2008, 00:36 IST |
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 After a public snub from his own government, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Abdul Rehman Antulay today backtracked on his quest to know the “truth” behind the killing of Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare.
In his detailed response on the issue in Parliament today, Home Minister P Chidambaram categorically refuted his Cabinet colleague.
Equating Antulay’s recent remarks with the BJP allegations against Karkare in the Malegaon blast probe, he said, “In the days before his death, questions were raised on the genuineness of the investigations being conducted by Karkare in a terrorist case. After his death, questions are being raised about the circumstances in which he was killed. In my view, both are wrong and deeply regrettable.”
Within minutes of government making it clear that it won’t succumb to any pressure from Antulay, the veteran minister appeared before the media and said, “The chapter is closed. Chidambaram has given a detailed reply after ascertaining facts.”
Tabling a five-page statement in both Houses of Parliament, Chidambaram gave details of the sequence of events after the terrorists attacked Mumbai on November 26 and concluded: “The investigators have reached the conclusion that there is no truth whatsoever in the suspicion that there was a conspiracy to eliminate Karkare or others. There is no truth in the different versions that have been circulated about Karkare’s movement on that fateful day.”
To Antulay’s repeated question that why three officers took the same vehicle on the fateful day, the government today replied: “Karkare appears to have acted with speed and purpose in response to a crisis situation. While it is indeed unfortunate that three brave officers and their men boarded one vehicle, the circumstances in which they came under fire and were killed were tragically fortuitous.”
According to sources, the contents of this statement were discussed at a high-level meeting of the top Congress leadership at the PM’s residence last night. Although a section of the party felt Antulay had been able to garner mass support for his stand, the top leadership was firm in its stand that Antulay’s apprehensions won’t be tolerated.
So, after Chidambaram’s statement, Antulay said, “I never questioned who killed Karkare. We all know he was killed by Pakistani terrorists. I had two questions: Why did he go in that direction and why three officers travelled in the same car? Now the home minister has clarified with a lot of responsibility, there is no need for any further inquiry.”
Even as the BJP continued to demand his resignation, Antulay said, “If they are so serious about my resignation, they can come to me or go to the PM.” He also claimed that he had done the “right thing” by raising the issue as “all doubts have been cleared now”. Meanwhile, before Chidambaram read out his statement in the Lok Sabha, NDA members led by Leader of the Opposition L K Advani walked out of the House demonstrating their dissatisfaction over the content of the statement.
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