The BJP's slander campaign did not deter Karkare from his dharma
Julio Ribeiro ( Times of India 28.11.2008)
Hemant Karkare came to meet me on Tuesday. He was shaken by L K Advani's
all e g at i o n s that the antiterrorist squad, which he headed, had acted
"in a politically motivated and unprofessional manner'' in the Malegaon
blasts investigation. He explained how the ATS had stumbled on the evidence
against Pragya Thakur and how the investigations developed. He was as
surprised as me that a seasoned politician like Advani should have joined
Hindutva's chorus against him.
Hemant Karkare was a true Hindu. He believed in his dharma. He had
expected his co-religionists to believe likewise. He was astonished that the
staunch proponents of Hindutva did not subscribe to the teachings of the
scriptures!
Hemant Karkare was one of Maharashtra's best police officers. I dare say
he was one of India's best. His integrity was unimpeachable. Mumbai
policemen who have privately divided the senior police leadership into two
distinct compartments—corrupt and noncorrupt—had placed Karkare squarely
among the latter. His application and abilities were outstanding. Above all,
he was people-oriented.
Hemant Karkare was much junior to me in service. Our paths did not cross
till my retirement. When he was SP, Gadchiroli, the Naxalites had targeted
him for elimination. The Indian Muhajideen had threatened to eliminate
him following
his inquiries into the Delhi blasts. Muslim clerics gheraoed him in his
office after he ordered combing operations in Mograpada in Andheri. And
finally there was the saffron brigade.
The fidayeen, who got him, just did not know who they had killed. Hemant
Karkare had rushed in to save hostages and died doing his duty.
The Hindutva forces had praised the ATS when it brought jihadi terrorists
to book, conveniently targeting it only after the Malegaon investigations. L
K Advani's blatant attempts to politicise the investigations for being
"politically motivated and unprofessional manner'' are laughable and need to
be unequivocally condemned because anyone who knew Karkare knew he was the
last person to succumb to political machinations. One can understand the
BJP's anxiety to obfuscate facts. The revelations during the investigations
have hurt them..
The campaign against the ATS and the attempt to politicise the Malegaon
investigations may help the BJP to win some votes in the coming elections
but they are playing with fire by assaulting the judicial process system.
What are they going to do about the mass of evidence so assiduously
collected by the ATS? And will they encourage fringe elements in the Hindu
community to resort to terrorism, should they come to power? They should
think seriously about the consequences of their ill-conceived adventure.
In the meantime, a truly distinguished officer, Hemant Karkare, is not
alive to suffer their barbs. He has laid down his life for his principles.
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