Digvijaya claims are painful: Karkare's wife

Kavita Karkare, widow of former Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad chief Hemant Karkare who was killed fighting Pakistani terrorists on the night of November 26, 2008 in Mumbai, has rubbished Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh claims that her husband had called the Congress leader just hours before the Mumbai terror attack saying that his life was under threat.
Speaking to CNN-IBN she said that she knew nothing of her husband making a call to Singh and added that her husband constantly faced all sorts of threats. She objected to his martyrdom being politicised.
CNN-IBN: What do you think makes Digvijaya Singh make these comments after two years of your husband's death?

Kavita Karkare: Actually many are saying these comment that he was killed by terrorist but that is 100 per cent wrong because on 26th (November 26, 2008) we have seen that the Pakistani terrorists are involved and I don't agree with Digvijaya Singh's statement. Digvijaya Singh wants to bring politics in this thing but and his relating 26/11 with Hindu people and that is really painful.

CNN-IBN: Do feel that there is you know something like a communal divide that is being created by Digvijaya Singh?

Kavita Karkare: Yes and Pakistan will get benefit from all these things.

CNN-IBN: So do you think that will affect the 26/11 investigation?

Kavita Karkare: Definitely it will affect. My husband was a very balanced person. Being a Hindu also he was very much balanced and he gave equal importance to all religion.

CNN-IBN: Do you feel traumatised by these various theories that keep coming in time and again?

Kavita Karkare: Yes! I really feel traumatised. I really feel sad sometimes. My children are staying abroad, one is in Europe and the other is in America. Sometimes I feel that I should go and stay with them.

Digvijay Singh sparks new storm with Karkare remark

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Saturday stirred a fresh controversy with a claim that Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare had, in a telephone call hours before being killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, said to him that Hindu groups had threatened him. Karkare's widow and the BJP slammed Singh's remarks, while an uncomfortable Congress said they were Singh's 'personal' comments.

Singh said that Karkare called him up a few hours before he was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and told him about threats from Hindu organisations as he was probing the Malegaon blast case in which some Hindu groups were allegedly involved.

Digvijay's remarks on Karkare unfortunate, says BJP

Hemant Karkare's widow Kavita speaking to reporters on Saturday, asserted that 'no Hindu outfit' was connected with her husband's killing. 'Pakistani terrorists killed my husband, Digvijay Singh is wrong.'

'Do not link his death with threats from Hindu organisations. The statement can mislead people,' she added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad, reacting to Singh's remarks, said: 'His comments are unfortunate, and we condemn it.'

'The country's security, fight against terror and investigations into the 26/11 attacks case have suffered a serious blow due to Digvijay Singh's comments. Terrorists from across the border will question the entire 26/11 attacks,' Prasad told reporters in New Delhi.

'Terrorists from across the border and their patrons are going to lap it up,' he said.

Prasad also alleged that Singh was making such statements to gain political mileage.

Karkare's widow slams Digvijay's comment

'He should not compromise with the country's security, and he is the one who went to Azamgarh (in Uttar Pradesh) and fetched a lot of criticism, and the Congress had to apologise,' Prasad said about Digvijay Singh.

Singh had gone to Azamgarh where many of those involved in the Sept 13, 2008, Delhi serial bombings belonged and spoke to their families.

The Congress, attempting to wriggle out of the controversy, said Singh's remarks were of 'personal' nature as Singh and Karkare knew each other.

'Digvijay Singh and Hemant Karkare knew each other personally because of their Madhya Pradesh connection. Their talks were also personal and I suppose he (Singh) has not made these comments as spokesperson of the party. Definitely, the party would not like to comments on this,' Congress spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi told reporters.

Karkare hailed from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

Dwivedi said the 'private conversation' between the two was made public by Singh in a programme and the party has no role into it.

'Hence, only he can comment on it. The party has nothing to say on it,' the party spokesperson added.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Singh said that Karkare was 'pained' over criticism by some BJP leaders of his (Karkare's) role in probing the alleged involvement of some Hindu groups in the Malegaon blast.

Karkare feared for his safety from Hindu extremists: Digvijay

'I came to know of the criticism... Rajnath Singh and others were putting questions on his credibility. He was pained,' Singh said.

Earlier too, Singh has created controversies with his comments - questioning the Batla House shootout with terrorists after the Sep 13, 2008, serial bombings in New Delhi, visiting Azamgarh, and questioning the home minister's handling of the Maoist problem as a security issue.