Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur has sparked new tensions by suggesting that those who truly love their country do not recognize the late Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare as a patriot. Addressing a gathering of Emergency-era detainees in Sehore, Thakur remarked, 'We faced one emergency in 1975 and another in 2008 when I was imprisoned post-Malegaon blast investigations. Many call Karkare a patriot, but real nationalists don't.'
The Congress party has lashed out at Thakur's comments, with former Union Minister Arun Yadav smearing her on Twitter: 'Pragya Singh Thakur has tainted the saffron robes, true Hindutva, and national duty with her actions and now dishonors her own late mentor's memory. As she hides her crimes behind the Malegaon blast, she's accused of conspiring with fellow RSS promoter Sunil Joshi, who was also murdered, hallmarking BJP and their terrorist legacy. How many more times will Modi pardon Pragya Singh?' he tweeted.
MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has yet again courted controversy. Previously, during the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, Thakur's statements about Karkare had drawn severe criticism.
What Pragya Thakur had previously stated
In a contentious declaration, Thakur had said that Karkare falsely implicated her and that she had warned him of the annihilation of his lineage — proclaiming that he died due to his misdeeds. Thakur claimed that Karkare had treated her poorly and had trapped her under false pretenses.
The Legacy of Hemant Karkare
Hemant Karkare met his end during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Furthermore, he was also overseeing the investigation of the Malegaon serial blasts for which Sadhvi Pragya was an accused. Questions were raised about the charge sheets filed under his supervision.
Karkare, born on December 12, 1954, into the Karhade Brahmin family, became an IPS officer in 1982. After serving as the Joint Commissioner of Police in Maharashtra, he was appointed Chief of the ATS. His achievements were many, and posthumously, the Indian government honored him with the Ashoka Chakra on November 26, 2009, a tribute to a true martyr.
The nation salutes the brave soul who left an indelible mark as the ATS Chief. May his legacy inspire future defenders of peace and justice.
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