After Pragya Singh Thakur made controversial statements against late former ATS chief Hemant Karkare, outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker and BJP’s eight time MP from Indore Sumitra Mahajan has also come up with negative remarks against Karkare.
Mahajan said that Karkare became a martyr because he died during duty. “There are two aspects to Hemant Karkare. He became a martyr because he died in line of duty, but if his role as a police officer was not correct, we will say it was not correct,’’ Mahajan told The Indian Express.
She also said that she heard that Karkare was a close aide of Digvijay Singh when he was Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and the former made many arrests on the behest of the latter. Responding to allegations, Singh tweeted, “Sumitra tai, I am proud that you associate me with Ashoka Chakra winner martyr Hemant Karkare. Your associates may insult him but I have always backed those talking about country’s interest, national unity and integrity.’’
Mahajan also pointed out that Pragya was not the only one who became a victim of torture in custody. She cited example of Dilip Patidar, who was picked up by Maharashtra ATS from Indore in 2008 for questioning. Mahajan said Patidar never returned, and the matter of his disappearance was also raised in court and parliament. Mahajan claimed that he was killed in police custody.