Digvijay’s remarks on Karkare personal, says Congress

NEW DELHI - The Congress Saturday termed as “personal” its general secretary Digvijay Singh’s comment that Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare had spoken to him about the threats to his life from some Hindu groups, and said the party has nothing to say on it.

“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 Madhya Pradesh.

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

“Hence, only he can comment on it. The party has nothing to say on it,” Dwivedi reiterated.

Sparking a fresh controversy, Singh said that Karkare called him up a few hours before he was killed during the 2008 terror attack and told him about threats from Hindu organisations as he was probing the Malegaon blast case in which some Hindu groups are allegedly involved.

Speaking to reporters Saturday, Singh said that Karkare was “pained” by some BJP leaders’ criticism of his (Karkare’s) role in the probe into the alleged involvement of some Hindu groups in the Malegaon blast.

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

Karkare’s widow Kavita challenged Singh’s comment. “Pakistani terrorists killed my husband, Digvijay Singh is wrong,” she said.