Former home minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday said there was a pattern in the Malegaon blast witnesses turning hostile, especially after the NDA government came to power.
"Of course there is a pattern in it. How do witnesses turn hostile after the new government is in place? And why tarnish the memory of a martyred police officer who is known for his impeccable record, integrity and honesty?" Chidambaram told media persons, referring to then ATS chief Hemant Karkare, killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, who initially led the probe and named 14 accused.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) gave a clean chit to Malegaon blast key accused Sadhvi Pragnya Singh Thakur and five others, dropping terror charges against them and paving the way for their early release from prison.
On the allegations that the home ministry under the UPA government was working in tandem with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Chidambaram sarcastically said: "Yes, we were having breakfast with Lashkar and then invited them over for dinner too. These are irresponsible statements."
--IANS
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