Preferring a political death to dishonor, Union Minister for Minority Affairs AR Antulay is nonchalant as the Congress continues to mull the embarrassment of a probe, into the killing of Hemant Katkare - undoubtedly the country’s most respected anti-terror official, sought by the former Maharashtra chief minister.
On Wednesday, Antulay had cast aspersions over the killing of Karkare during the Mumbai terror attack, calling for a probe into the possible link between the top anti-terror official’s killing and the Malegaon blasts being investigated by him.
With the right wing seeking his scalp and the Congress in no mood to equip the BJP with a ‘minority appeasement’ stick to whack it with –Antulay submitted his resignation to the PMO on Friday – after he was given the choice to retract his statement or quit.
As first reported in an editorial on this website - substantiated by editorials in the national media a day later - Antulay’s remarks have found ‘many takers’ in the minority community, and his growing following has forced the Congress to rethink its decision to sack him as it may result in an electoral backlash for the party in 2009 General Elections.
The Congress set to be divided over the acceptance of Antulay’s resignation, in face of his growing popularity amongst the minority voters.
The Congress core group met in New Delhi on Saturday and purportedly, discussed the issue even as former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh came to his rescue saying he found nothing objectionable in Antulay’s remark.
Singh’s comment, however, failed to impress party bosses and he is reported to have been issued a party gag order on the issue.
In its official statement on Friday the Congress had said that it did not endorse the views expressed by Antulay.
On Saturday a nonchalant Antulay continued to discharge parliamentary work and attended a conference on the recommendations of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakfs.
Speaking to CNN-IBN Antulay said: “I am proud of what I have said and done. I have no regrets whatsoever.”
Responding to Opposition claims of playing into the hands of Pakistan with his remarks, Antulay iterated that he had never said that Karkare was not killed by a Pakistani terrorist.
“All I am saying is that why should a brave and outstanding officer like Karkare have gone to Cama Hospital instead of going to the Taj or Trident. How is asking a question like this playing into Pakistani hands? Why should Pakistan come into this debate at all?”Rejects criticism
Negating charges of embarrassing the Congress leadership, Antulay simply questioned: “I have said what I believe, how is that embarrassing anyone?”
A Congress old timer Antulay has no background of indulging in minority politics, in fact many in the country did not even know him as a Muslim – due to his last name – till he made the now infamous remarks outside the Paliament on Wednesday, which have resulted in a huge minority tide turning in his favour.
With the Congress in no position to sack the minister at this juncture and the BJP seething with rage over his remarks, the controversy surrounding Antulay is not likely to subside over the next few days.
On Wednesday, Antulay had cast aspersions over the killing of Karkare during the Mumbai terror attack, calling for a probe into the possible link between the top anti-terror official’s killing and the Malegaon blasts being investigated by him.
With the right wing seeking his scalp and the Congress in no mood to equip the BJP with a ‘minority appeasement’ stick to whack it with –Antulay submitted his resignation to the PMO on Friday – after he was given the choice to retract his statement or quit.
As first reported in an editorial on this website - substantiated by editorials in the national media a day later - Antulay’s remarks have found ‘many takers’ in the minority community, and his growing following has forced the Congress to rethink its decision to sack him as it may result in an electoral backlash for the party in 2009 General Elections.
The Congress set to be divided over the acceptance of Antulay’s resignation, in face of his growing popularity amongst the minority voters.
The Congress core group met in New Delhi on Saturday and purportedly, discussed the issue even as former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh came to his rescue saying he found nothing objectionable in Antulay’s remark.
Singh’s comment, however, failed to impress party bosses and he is reported to have been issued a party gag order on the issue.
In its official statement on Friday the Congress had said that it did not endorse the views expressed by Antulay.
On Saturday a nonchalant Antulay continued to discharge parliamentary work and attended a conference on the recommendations of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakfs.
Speaking to CNN-IBN Antulay said: “I am proud of what I have said and done. I have no regrets whatsoever.”
Responding to Opposition claims of playing into the hands of Pakistan with his remarks, Antulay iterated that he had never said that Karkare was not killed by a Pakistani terrorist.
“All I am saying is that why should a brave and outstanding officer like Karkare have gone to Cama Hospital instead of going to the Taj or Trident. How is asking a question like this playing into Pakistani hands? Why should Pakistan come into this debate at all?”Rejects criticism
Negating charges of embarrassing the Congress leadership, Antulay simply questioned: “I have said what I believe, how is that embarrassing anyone?”
A Congress old timer Antulay has no background of indulging in minority politics, in fact many in the country did not even know him as a Muslim – due to his last name – till he made the now infamous remarks outside the Paliament on Wednesday, which have resulted in a huge minority tide turning in his favour.
With the Congress in no position to sack the minister at this juncture and the BJP seething with rage over his remarks, the controversy surrounding Antulay is not likely to subside over the next few days.
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