Antulay issue rocks Parliament for third day

Minister A R Antulay on Monday kept up his defiant stance and rejected opposition charge that his statement on Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare's killing has weakened India's case vis a vis Pakistan.

"I knew that it was right, when I had made the statement. I gave the statement because it was right. Antuly never gave wrong statement," he told reporters while replying to a query on what he felt after Congress leader Digvijay Singh's backing to him.

Antulay refused to accept that his statements gave Pakistan a chance to weaken India's claims. He accused the media of twisting his statements saying, "the way unfortunately media presented my statements before the people by twisting them gave Pakistan a chance..."

He, however, refused to answer a question on whether there is any confusion in Congress with different party leaders giving different reactions to his remarks.

Describing himself a "soldier of Congress," the union Minister said," I am neither an office bearer of the party nor its spokesman. Better you ask this to them?"

The Union Minister also dismissed the charge that his remarks affected the all party unity on terror saying, "No, not all. This is entirely wrong".

"I told them (BJP)laughingly why you are repeating my name in stead of Sri Ram. I am not such a big person." he added.

The minister, however, stuck to his earlier statements doubting why the ATS chief Hemant Karkare and two other police officers went towards Cama Hospital and not towards Hotel Taj and Oberai and Nariman House, where terrorists had struck in a bigger way.

"I had raised two points. Who called Karkare when he was eating and why after visiting the Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus railway station he went Southwards where Cama hospital is located and not northwards where Taj and Oberai are located," he said answering to a query on whether he still sticks to the statements he made earlier.

Earlier in the morning, Antulay had said "Nothing is in anyone's hand", when asked whether his party was contemplating action against him on his remarks.

Antulay himself remained defiant dismissing the charge that his statement has weakened India's case vis a vis Pakistan.

"I knew that it was right when I had made the statement. I gave the statement because it was right. Antulay never gave wrong statement," he told reporters.

He accused the media of twisting his statements saying, "the way unfortunately media presented my statements before the people by twisting them gave Pakistan a chance."

Sources close to him said the minister would also like to clarify his position in the Lok Sabha, if permitted by the party.

Meanwhile, the BJP and its ally JD(U) spoke in different voices like two Left leaders also giving out different views.

BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu described the Congress stand on A R Antulay's statement on ATS chief Hemant Karkare's death as a "trial balloon".

"Government is sending a trial balloon saying what is wrong in Antulay's statement. A former Pakistan PM is saying the terrorist (Amir Ajmal Kasab) involved in the Mumbai attack is from Pakistan.

"But a minister here is raising doubts. It (Antulay's statement) is an anti-national statement," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in the Parliament complex here.

But an MP of the JD(U), an ally of the BJP, said he supported Antulay's demand for an inquiry into Karkare's killing. "This is a feeling of not only Muslims but also the entire country," he said and asked Congress party not to take any action against Antulay.

The CPI and CPI(M) differed in their approach towards Antulay.

Terming his remarks "unnecessary", CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat said that Antulay should not have made the statements.

CPI leader D Raja, however, said "If a senior minister raises any issue, the government cannot brush it away. The government must come out clear on these issues."

"He (Antulay) has raised some issues. He is a senior minister and handling a very sensitive portfolio. It is for the government to explain. Why Congress is speaking in different voices?" Raja asked.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, on being repeatedly asked to explain his stand on the issue, said: "When investigation is already on into the issue, why should any one say something on it. I do not think anybody should speak in between."

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had a word of caution against raking up the issue further.

"This issue should not be raked up in national interest. Antulay is from Maharashtra. There is Maharashtra government, which must have some knowledge on it."