Explained: The political storm over ‘Kasab didn’t kill 26/11 hero’ remark in Maharashtra

The BJP’s choice of candidate from Mumbai North Central has triggered a massive controversy.

Amid the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar alleged that an RSS-affiliated police officer, and not terrorist Ajmal Kasab, killed former state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

The Congress leader questioned the saffron party for nominating Ujjwal Nikam, who was then a public prosecutor in the terror attack trial case in which Ajmal Kasab was handed a death sentence.

Here’s all we know about it.

Congress leader sparks row

The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, Wadettiwar, was speaking in Mumbai on Saturday when he purportedly called Nikam an “anti-national” and accused him of hiding the information that then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorist Ajmal Kasab’s bullet during the 26/11 terror attack, but fell to a bullet of a policeman affiliated to the RSS, as per PTI.

“Nikam defamed Congress by raising the issue of biryani. Will anyone give biryani to Kasab? Later, Ujjwal Nikam accepted it, what kind of a lawyer is he, a traitor who did not even testify in the court? The bullet that killed Mumbai Police officer Hemant Karkare was not fired from Kasab’s gun, but from a police officer loyal to RSS at that time. If the BJP is giving a ticket to a traitor who hid this truth from the court, then the question arises of why is BJP supporting these traitors?” said Wadettiwar, as per India Today.

His allegations were based on the book Who Killed Karkare written by SM Mushriff, a former Inspector General of Police and brother of Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Hasan Mushrif.

“At the time of the 26/11 attacks, then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh even said that hanging Ajmal Kasab is not a big thing and taking credit for it was not needed. Even a tehsil-level bailout lawyer could have got Kasab hanged. Kasab was terrorist, hanging was imminent. Nikam’s level had been gauged by Deshmukh. I don’t have to say anymore. If he speaks, then I will say more. I have all the information about him. Whatever I have said is with reference to the book written by SM Mushrif," The Times of India quoted Wadettiwar as saying.

“Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorists’ bullets. This is written in the book of police officer SM Mushrif. Why did Ujjwal Nikam not bring this to the fore? Police officer SM Mushrif has written in his book that Hemant Karkare was killed by a bullet, and that bullet is not of extremists (terrorists)… It is not a big deal to hang Ajmal Kasab, any ordinary lawyer or bailout lawyer could have done this,” he said, as per India Today.

He added that Nikam was in cahoots with the BJP for a long time and was observed speaking up during Shiv Sena and NCP splits, as per TOI.

“Nikam made up things as if he is ‘sarvgyani’. We used to keenly observe him. It was clear what was in his thoughts. We observed whether he is presenting the case hearings impartially or not as a lawyer and speaking fairly,” the LoP said.

AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also questioned the BJP for allegedly replacing a woman MP with someone like Nikam whose ’lie’ about Kasab being served biryani had been exposed in the past, as per PTI.

Also read: 15 years of 26/11: How 9-year-old ‘youngest witness’ was called ‘Kasab ki beti’

Criticism

Reacting to Wadettiwar’s statement, Nikam said on Sunday, “As a responsible leader, the opposition leader should desist from making such comments that can help the enemy nation."

“I am reminded of Hitler’s regime. We Indians are intelligent people. Karkare was killed by RSS people. They made a baseless allegation. Kasab had given the judicial confession. We sent the evidence to Pakistan. The motive is to create confusion and malign the image of Ujjwal Nikam. People will show them their place on 20 May,” Nikam said.

The ruling party at the Centre has slammed Congress for playing vote bank politics.

BJP’s national general secretary, Vinod Tawde, said, “Congress can stoop to any level to please and get its special vote bank. Senior leader of Maharashtra Congress and LoP Vijay Wadettiwar proved this by giving a clean chit to the terrorists of 26/11.”

“According to him, Kasab did not shoot at martyr Hemant Karkare ji. Did Congress not feel ashamed at all while supporting the terrorists? Today the whole country has also come to know why prayers are being offered in Pakistan for the victory of Congress and the prince,” India Today quoted him.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, according to NDTV, said the Opposition is “worried about Ajmal Kasab’ and wants to support terrorists by targeting Nikam.

He said, “As per opposition leader Vijay Waddetiwar, Ujjwal Nikam insulted Kasab. Kasab terrorised the city and the Congress is worried about him. Mahayuti is supporting Ujjwal Nikam and MVA is supporting Kasab. Now you decide who you should vote for.”

Also read: Who is Sajid Mir, 26/11 Mumbai Attacks conspirator reported to be poisoned inside Pakistan jail

BJP seeks action

The BJP has written to the Election Commission of India, seeking action against the Congress and Vijay Wadettiwar for allegedly peddling lies and defaming the saffron party’s Mumbai North Central nominee, Ujjwal Nikam, as per PTI.

Terming Wadettiwar’s statements as “false and not based on facts”, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar claimed they were aimed at defaming Nikam and inciting emotions.

“We have written to the Election Commission of India seeking action against Wadettiwar, who is a star campaigner (of Congress) and also against the Congress party for peddling lies,” he added.

Shelar said Kasab was sentenced to death for killing innocent people after following due process of law.

Also read: How Hafiz Saeed became one of India’s most wanted terrorists

The background

Hemant Karkare was killed in action during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. He was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest bravery award.

10 Pakistani terrorists attacked the dream city of India in 2008, killing 166 people.

Ajmal Kasab was the lone surviving terrorist of the attack.

He was placed in a Mumbai jail for nearly four years.

Ujjwal Nikam fought the case on behalf of the government until Kasab was hanged in Pune in November 2012.

In 2009, Nikam made headlines for saying Kasab had asked for biryani while in jail. But when questioned by the special court, he had said it was a story he “concocted,” as per NDTV.

“Kasab never demanded biryani and (it) was never served (to him) by the government. I concocted it just to break an emotional atmosphere which was taking shape in favour of Kasab during the trial of the case,” he had told reporters.

Recently, the BJP dropped sitting legislator Poonam Mahajan and announced that Nikam will be up against Congress’s Varsha Gaikwad on the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat.

With inputs from agencies