EC Seeks Report, IPS Association ‘Strongly Condemns’ Sadhvi’s Comments on Ex-Mumbai ATS Chief

The Election Commission took cognisance of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's comments on the death of former Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare and has sought a report.

New Delhi: Hours after Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur exclaimed that former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, who died during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, met his untimely death due to ‘bad karma’, the Election Commission of India has taken cognizance of her remarks and ordered an enquiry into the same.

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Thakur on Friday said, “Maine kaha tera (Mumbai ATS chief late Hemant Karkare) sarvanash hoga. Theek sava mahine mein sutak lagta hai. Jis din main gayi thi us din iske sutak lag gaya tha.Aur theek sava mahine mein jis din atankwadiyon ne isko maara, us din uska anth hua.” (Hemant Karkare falsely implicated me in Malegaon blasts and treated me very badly. I told him your entire clan will be erased. He died because of his karma,” Sadhvi said.)

Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer: Complaint received against BJP Lok Sabha candidate for Bhopal, Pragya Singh Thakur, for her comments on 26/11 martyr (former Mumbai ATS Chief Hemant Karkare). Cognizance taken. The matter is under enquiry. (File pic of Pragya Singh Thakur) pic.twitter.com/CiHl0a1WgD

— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2019

In addition, the IPS Association too registered their ‘strong condemnation’ against Sadhvi Pragya for her comments on late Hemant Karkare.

Ashok Chakra awardee late Sri Hemant Karkare, IPS made the supreme sacrifice fighting terrorists. Those of us in uniform condemn the insulting statement made by a candidate and demand that sacrifices of all our martyrs be respected.

— IPS Association (@IPS_Association) April 19, 2019

Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in which seven people were killed. She was in jail for nine years and is presently out on bail. She joined the BJP on Wednesday and, thereafter, the saffron party announced her as its candidate against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Bhopal, Thakur said, “The Congress has linked Hindus with terrorism, called them terrorists and harassed a woman. The names that I was given and the way I was tortured… How do I believe this won’t be repeated with other women in the future?”

Recounting her torture in jail, she became emotional and broke into tears. She said she would be beaten up throughout the night and denied food for days. “I was made to survive on just water for several days.”

To questions about her Congress opponent asking for proof of her harassment, Thakur said, “I don’t say things without evidence. I am a living example of Congress’ conspiracies and illegal activities. And if Digvijaya Singh is asking for proof for all this, he will be given proof. I will take my case to the public and even give evidence of my torture.”

Thakur will file her nomination on April 23.