BJP, Shiv Sena slam Digvijay Singh over controversial remarks on Karkare

New Delhi, Dec 12 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Shiv Sena have criticized Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh over his controversial remarks on the slain Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, who was gunned down by militants in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Singh on Saturday said Karkare called him just hours before the attack and said that his life was 'blighted by constant threats' from those opposed to his probe into the Malegaon blast.

"On November 26, 2008, at 7 .pm, just about two hours before the attacks in Mumbai started, Hemant Karkare, rang me on my mobile and told me how his family and his life were blighted by constant threats from people annoyed by his investigations into the Malegaon blasts," said Singh.

"He was worried and he told me he was trying to trace the calls, but was depressed and worried by threats and personal attacks made in their newspapers. Karkare also told me that he was hurt that in a paper, the mouthpiece of a Hindu right-wing organization, allegations were being made that my son was minting money in Dubai, when in reality he was only a school student in Mumbai," he added.

Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh questioned why Digvijay Singh had remained silent for so long.

"I would like to know it from Mr. Digvijay Singh that why were you silent for past two years And since when did you know Mr. Karkare? Didn't Mr. Karkare share the information about the threat to his life with Intelligence Bureau? Why he only shared this information with you," he told reporters in Lucknow.

BJP national spokesperson Prakash Jawadekar said it was an attempt to divert attention from the 2G-spectrum scam.

"Congress is starting such controversial statements everyday to run away and drag everybody's attention from the matters of corruption. But this politics will not sustain for many days," he told a press conference in Mumbai.

"Senior Congress leaders like Mr. Digvijay Singh are not able to bear the downslide of Congress party and that is why in a state of stress he is giving such comments. He just wants to remain in the headlines," added Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

Digvijay Singh further said he knew Karkare, as his family was associated with Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh.

"I was so shocked and demoralized on being told of his death in the attacks, that my initial reaction was, 'Oh God, they have killed him'. It was only later that I found out about other events taking place in the city on that dreadful day," he added.

Karkare was probing Malegaon blast, in which Sadhvi Pragya Singh is the prime suspect. (ANI)