Though under pressure, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur had tendered apology for her remarks on Maharahstra ATS chief late Hemant Karkare, the trouble seems not over as Election Commission has served notices to her and BJP district president over the statement.
District Returning Officer and the Collector Sudama Khade has served notices to Thakur and BJP Bhopal president Vikas Virani over party’s Bhopal candidate’s remarks. The officer has directed the two to furnish their replies within 24 hours.
On Friday, Chief Electoral Officer of MP VL Kantha Rao had stated that a complaint had been received by his office on Thakur’s remarks and he has directed Bhopal Collector to probe into the matter. The officer without naming the complainant had claimed that no political party had submitted the complaint.
Thakur during a meeting of party workers in Bairagarh in Bhopal on Thursday had slammed late Maharahstra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare accusing him of worst torture and abuses just to make her confess the involvement in Malegaon blasts of 2008.
She even claimed it was her curse that brought about the demise of Karkare in encounter with terrorists and even called him anti-national. The remarks meant for a police officer who was martyred in terrorist attack and was conferred with Ashok Chakra the highest peace time civilian honour had caused a furore in the country.
The BJP on Wednesday fielded her from the Bhopal seat, where she is set to have a direct contest with Congress heavyweight and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh.
Her statement against Karkare raised a political storm Friday with opposition parties attacking the BJP and the Congress demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the saffron party distanced itself from her comments, saying it was her personal view which she might have made due to years of physical and mental torture.