Athawale Slams BJP For Pragya Thakur’s Ticket, Says ATS Had Proof

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale slammed the BJP over its decision to field terror-accused Pragya Thakur from Bhopal.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Union Minister and RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale on Sunday, 28 April, said that he disagreed with BJP Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur's comments on former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare.

He also slammed the ruling dispensation for its decision to field the Malegaon blast accused from Bhopal, adding that his party would never have given her a ticket.

“Her name had figured in the Malegaon case and Karkare had enough evidence against her,” the Union minister said, as per a report in The Indian Express.

Thakur had earlier said that Karkare was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack as she had "cursed" him for "torturing" her while he was probing the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

She is an accused in the Malegaon blast case and is currently out on bail.

‘Condemn Thakur’s Statement’

"Karkare was martyred while fighting terrorists to save people. I do not agree with Sadhvi's statement on Karkare. We condemn it. It is for the court to decide what is right and what is wrong," he told reporters, as per PTI.

“If left to our party, we would not have fielded her,” he added.

Speaking about the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, Athawale, Minister of State for social justice and empowerment at the Centre, said the NDA would win 350 seats.

He said, post victory, he hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would give him a good ministerial post.

On being asked what his stand would be on Pakistan if he was made defence minister, Athawale said he would attack the neighbouring country if it harboured those who carried out terror attacks against India.

(With inputs from Indian Express, PTI)