Bhopal/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur dealt a rude jolt to the party's patriotism plank by claiming 26/11 Mumbai terror attack martyr Hemant Karkare died because of her curse.
The BJP distanced itself from her remarks saying the comments were her personal opinion, but the Election Commission took suo motu cognizance of the controversial remark of the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast accused. She later apologised after her remarks triggered a major outcry.
Thakur had said publicly that Karkare died in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she had cursed him.
Chief Electoral Officer of Madhya Pradesh, V L Kantharao, told THE WEEK that the commission had taken cognizance and was examining the statement of Thakur. Action would be decided later.
Claiming Thakur's remarks as personal, the saffron party said she might have made that statement because of the “mental and physical torture she had faced”.
"The BJP considers him (Karkare) a martyr. This is Sadhvi Pragya's personal statement which she might have given because of the mental and physical torture she had faced," the party said in a statement.
On Friday evening, Thakur apologised and said, "It was my personal pain. I take back my statement and apologise."
She said she was taking back her remarks as she "felt that the enemies of the country are being benefited" from it.
She said Karkare was a "martyr" who died from the bullets of terrorists from the enemy country.
Thakur's controversial statement on Karkare had caused widespread furore and the IPS Association had strongly condemned it.
The association wrote on Twitter, "Ashok Chakra awardee late Sri Hemant Karkare IPS made the supreme sacrifice fighting terrorists. Those of us in uniform condemn the insulting statement made by a candidate and demand that sacrifices of all our martyrs be respected."
Thakur alleged at a workers' meet late on Thursday night that Karkare had tortured and abused her severely, therefore she had cursed him. "And within a month and a quarter when sutak (mourning period in Hindu belief) ended, he was killed," Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast, said.
"Then Karkare asked me various questions and I replied 'God knows'. At this, Karkare said would he have to go to God to get the answers. Then, I told him that he would be destroyed and he was cursed... within a month and a half he fell victim to the terrorists' bullets.
"Hindus believe that that a period of one and a half month after anyone's birth or death is of ritual impurity. When Karkare asked me these questions, this period started for him and ended with him being killed by terrorists," she said.
A video of her speech went viral on Friday, creating huge backlash.
The statement by Thakur, who had joined the BJP on Wednesday and was hours later named its candidate against former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal, drew flak from opposition parties like the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, who demanded that the party to apologise .
Congress leader Sanjay Jha accused Thakur of mocking Karkare's death.
"I live in Mumbai. We saw 26/11 at close quarters. ATS Chief Hemant Karkare stood up to save us from Pakistani terrorists. He was killed by them. BJP candidate from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur mocks his death," Jha said in a tweet.
The AAP said the nation is proud of Karkare who laid down his life fighting against the Pakistani terrorists during the 26/11 attack. "BJP must apologize for insulting Hemant Karkare."
AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal called the comments "disgraceful" and said her comment need to be condemned in strongest terms.
"BJP is showing its true colours and it must be shown it's place now," he tweeted.
MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi also questioned the BJP for Thakur's comment.
"Hemant Karkare died fighting people not very different from yourself. He didn't die because a terror accused 'felt bad' and 'cursed' him. The man died fighting to protect our rights to vote and elect a government. How dare BJP insult our martyrs like this?" he asked.
(With inputs from agencies)