Cong should feel proud of my statement: Antulay

New Delhi, Dec 19: A R Antulay's remarks on the killing of ATS chief, Hemant Karkare, created controversy but the former minister is unperturbed by this. Antulay on Friday, Dec 19 said that he stuck to his stand and that both government and Congress should feel 'proud' of his comments.

"I always stand by the truth," said Antulay, who has sent his resignation to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Asked whether he stood by what he had said two days back, he said in affirmative. He had earlier said, "Whether Karkare was a victim of terrorism or terrorism plus something, I do not know..."

"I said a man like Karkare is born among millions... Who pushed him in the trap of death? Who sent him there to be killed by the Pakistanis?" was Antulay's refrain.

Arguing that Congress had no reason to be embarrassed by whatever he had said, Antulay said, "Both the government and the party should feel proud."

He refused to confirm nor deny whether he sent his resignation to the Prime Minister.

Asked whether he had been asked to resign, he said, "Does a person like Antulay need to be told to resign?"

On being pestered to confirm his resignation, Antulay said, "... I am a self respected person...Forget the resignation. That is a very simple thing. I had resigned from Chief Ministership of Maharashtra...when 100 per cent Congress MLAs were with me."

To another query whether the party has sought any clarification from him, he said, "Clarification is sought when anything is hidden."

Justifying his earlier demand for including riots under the purview of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Antulay said, "On the issue of federal agency, I said what was in the hearts of millions of Indians... I have told the truth."

"Nobody spoke. But I did. I said so because it has been found that a number of things are pushed under the carpet in the name of state subject. Federal agency is being made... I said it at an opportune moment as a reminder of duty," he argued.

He also refused to accept the opposition's charge that Pakistan can use his remarks on the circumstances surrounding Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare's killing and questioned, "How do you say that Pakistan can use this thing?"

Further clarifying his earlier remarks, Antulay said, "Karkare and two other police officers were definitely killed by the Pakistani terrorists. Even a fool knows this. What I asked was who sent Karkare and the two officers there?"

He said print and electronic media twisted his comments.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)