Hemant Karkare's relative criticises Pragya

Mumbai: A relative of slain Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare on Monday slammed BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur over her remarks against the police officer, and said she should not have been given poll ticket.

Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast case, is contesting the Lok Sabha poll from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh on BJP’s ticket. She recently claimed that Karkare died during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she “cursed” him for “torturing” her when he probed the blast case as chief of the ATS.

The Election Commission last week issued a show-cause notice to Thakur over her remarks. Karkare’s brother-in-law Kiran Dev said he feels disgusted over politicisation of the police officer’s death. “Nobody should insult martyrs by making irresponsible statements,” he said.

“I am saddened by Sadhvi Pragya’s comments on Karkare, who was a humane person and used to speak to everyone with respect. A person like him could have never hurt Sadhvi,” he said. Lamenting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not condemn Thakur’s remarks, he said, “The BJP should not have given ticket to her.”

“Sadhvi said Karkare was killed due to her curse, but personally I don’t believe such things,” Mr Dev said, adding that “mentally weak” people make such statements.