The BJP Sunday approached Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding action against Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for allegedly violating model code of conduct by his statement on death of Hemant Karkare, who was killed while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Wadettiwar, a former minister and Brahmapuri MLA, said: “Hemant Karkare was not killed by bullets of terrorists like Ajmal Kasab, but by a policeman close to RSS….Ujjwal Nikam, who appeared as special public prosecutor, is a traitor who suppressed this fact and BJP has given an election ticket to a traitor like him”. Nikam is a candidate of BJP from Mumbai North Central constituency. However, on Sunday, when Wadettiwar was asked in Kolhapur about his statement, he said, “What I have said has been written in a book by former police officer S M Mushrif.” Later in Pune, Wadettiwar continued with his attack on Nikam, highlighting excerpts from a book by former police officer Meeran Borawankar. “The book clearly stated that no Biryani was ever offered to Kasab. It also means that Nikam purposely lied to defame the state government of Congress and NCP despite being a public prosecutor,” said Wadettiwar. The BJP, however, attacked the Congress claiming it was using Pakistan’s language. “Pakistan maintains that Kasab did not kill Indian police officials. Is Congress supporting Pakistan on this?” asked Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar. He also demanded that the ally Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena should clarify its position on Wadettiwar’s statement. Nikam said that the allegations of Wadettiwar were baseless. “Why is it that the Congress is speaking the language of Pakistan?” He asked. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that Wadettiwar was speaking Pakistan’s language and raising doubts on the country’s judiciary. “Maharashtra will show Congress and its leaders who are singing the Pakistan’s tune the right place,” said Fadnavis. In its complaint to the CEC, BJP’s Mumbai unit demanded that Wadettiwar should apologise and must be restrained from campaigning. It has also demanded an FIR against him and probe the role of Congress in supporting and propagating the harmful narrative. Nikam’s rival and Congress candidate from Mumbai North Central, Varsha Gaikwad said that the diversionary tactics of the BJP are a result of its realisation that it is fighting a lost battle. “The BJP is talking about Hindu-Muslim, India-Pakistan because it has failed to deliver on its promises in the last 10 years,” she said, adding that while BJP is claiming the credit to Nikam for his work as a special public prosecutor in 26/11 case, it should be noted that Nikam was appointed by the then Congress-led state government. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress has approached the Election Commission and filed a complaint of violation of model code of conduct against the BJP over its advertisement asking voters whether their vote will lead to celebration in India or Pakistan.
