The Hindu : Front Page : Antulay issue will dominate Parliament

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Monday, Dec 22, 2008
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Antulay issue will dominate Parliament

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: The Antulay issue is threatening to blow up into a major controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party saying that the subject would dominate parliamentary proceedings on Monday and the Communist Party of India asking the Congress to “clear its stand” on the matter.

Following his controversial remarks on the death of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, Hemant Karkare, during the Mumbai terror attacks, Union Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay is reported to have submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on which no decision has been announced so far.

Urging Dr. Singh to immediately sack the Minister for “weakening India’s fight on terrorism,” BJP’s Parliamentary Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told journalists on Sunday that the subject would dominate Parliament if the government’s statement on the issue was not acceptable to the people of the country.

“What Mr. Antulay has said is not in the interest of the country and has weakened India’s position on Mumbai terror attacks internationally,” Mr. Hussain said.

Referring to the former Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif’s statement that Mohammad Ajmal Amir, the terrorist who was caught during the Mumbai attacks, is a Pakistani, Mr. Hussain said that while a Pakistan leader helped India, Mr. Antulay’s statement was against the national interest.

Bardhan’s call

CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan asked the Congress to clear its position. “It is time the Congress cleared its stand on the issue and thus put an end to the controversy. This is not the only occasion when the Congress has been talking with [a] forked tongue and thereby conceding ground to communal forces,” he said.

Mr. Bardhan said there were contradictory reactions from the Congress. While the official spokespersons distanced themselves from the remarks and even said that Mr. Antulay should withdraw them or face removal from the Cabinet, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said there was nothing wrong in what the Minister said.

Mr. Bardhan questioned the BJP and Shiv Sena’s strident posture when just a day before they “demonised” Karkare (who was investigating the Malegaon blasts) and even called for a “bandh” that could not materialise because of the Mumbai attacks.

The CPI leader said Pakistan need not draw comfort from Mr. Antulay’s statement as he had clearly said that it were Pakistani terrorists who shot Karkare.

Related links:

Antulay ‘submits resignation’

Mumbai terror: Comprehensive coverage

Images: Mumbai Aftermath

Images: End of Mumbai siege

Mumbai terror attacks in pictures

Mumbai terror attacks in pictures - 2

Mumbai terror attacks in pictures - 3

Ratan Tata’s press meet - Podcast

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