Speculation on Antulay’s position continues

Till late on Friday there was no indication, either from the Congress party or the Prime Minister’s office, on the fate of the resignation of Antulay reflecting acute dilemma confronting the party on the issue within the party.

In fact, there was no formal confirmation of the resignation and Antulay attended the Cabinet meeting and he himself said he would neither confirm nor deny it.

“Both the Congress party and the Government should feel proud,” an unapologetic Antulay said over his remarks two days ago that sought to link Karkare’s killing to the fact that he was investigating the Malegaon blasts.

Signature campaign against Antulay

A signature campaign will be launched in Indore on December 21 to protest Union Minister A R Antulay’s controversial statement over the death of ATS chief Hemant Karkare during the terror attacks in Mumbai.

The campaign will be launched by BJP legislator Kailash Vijaywargiya in his individual capacity. Announcing the campaign, Vijaywargiya told reporters that the senior Congress leader’s statement, raising “doubt” over the way the IPS officer was killed, “appeared as if it was given by a Pakistani Minister”.

Nearly one lakh people are expected to sign on a canvas which would be send to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP leader said.

Besides general public, retired defence personnel would take part in the campaign, he said.