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Chidambaram rubbishes his theory; minister backtracks comment
On Tuesday, the controversy regarding Minorities Affairs minister AR Antulay's comments about Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare's death in the Mumbai terror attacks seemed to fizzle out, with the veteran leader making a sharp u-turn and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clearing the air.
"I think to err is human... The matter should be allowed to rest," said Singh.
With Home Minister P Chidambaram too rubbishing the conspiracy theory floated by the minister, Antulay had no choice but to backtrack from his remarks suggesting a sinister plot behind the killing of Karkare. "I have never talked about a conspiracy...I never raised doubt about who killed him (Karkare)," Antulay said.
Maintaining that "there was no need for further probe" after Chidambaram's statement, which had "settled" the matter, Antulay brushed aside the issue of his quitting the Cabinet.
On the Opposition's demand for his sacking, the 79-year-old leader suggested that they were not going to be obliged. "They will have to touch my feet and ask for my resignation," Antulay said.
The Congress, however, seemed happy with the issue after having scored a few brownie points with the Muslim community. "It was pure politics. Antulay's questions about why the ATS officers went to Cama Hospital when the terrorists were attacking the Taj and Oberoi hotels satisfied the Muslim community," said a Congress leader, requesting anonymity.
"The party's official position is to forget the issue. But it has fanned the aggrieved feelings of Muslims. After the Batla House encounter, the party got unprecedented support from the community. Now, it has cemented the bonding," said a party leader, wishing not to be named.
Sources said the Congress played the Antulay card to deflect focus from the growing number of terror attacks in the country and the economic slowdown.
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