Hemant Karkare's daughter speaks on Pragya Thakur's derogatory remarks
Jui Navare, the daughter of former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare, finally broke her silence on the controversial remarks of BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Thakur. Remembering her father, Jui said he always taught them that terror has no religion and that he was trying to save his country "even in his death". Jui said she doesn't want to dignify Pragya's statement. Here's more.
Pragya stoked controversy with her statement against Karkare
Soon after she joined politics, BJP fielded Pragya from Bhopal to contest against Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh. Pragya, who spent almost a decade in jail for her alleged role in 2008 Malegaon blasts case, said she was tortured in custody. She boasted that she 'cursed' Karkare and told him his clan would cease to exist. Pragya said this is why Karkare died.
His name should be taken with dignity: Jui
Speaking to IE, Jui said she learned about Pragya's comments through social media. The headlines piqued her interests as her father was mentioned, Jui said. Jui, who lives in the US, added, "I do not want to dignify her or her statement. I only want to talk about Hemant Karkare. He was a role model and his name should be taken with dignity."
Karkare believed terror has no religion
The daughter of the martyr who laid down his life fighting terrorists when Mumbai was attacked on November 26, 2008, said Karkare always believed that terror has no religion. "No religion teaches anyone to kill each other... it's the ideology that has to be defeated," she said. Jui said Karkare helped everyone in his 24-year long service in the police.
Jui said her father placed his uniform before everything
"Even in his death, he was trying to save his city, his country. He loved his uniform and placed it before us and before his own life. I just want everyone to remember that," Jui, the eldest among Karkare's three kids, said.
Malegaon blast case completely occupied Karkare
Karkare led team had arrested Pragya and ten others in connection to Malegaon blasts case a month before Mumbai was attacked. Jui said the case, in which 5 people died and 100 were injured, kept her father busy. Karkare's wife Kavita feared for his life as she "was very worried about the case and its implications", Jui added. Notably, Kavita passed away in 2014.
Whatever he did was correct: Jui
"On the case, I fully supported his findings. I knew whatever he did would be correct. He was an officer who went by the book. I know him as a daughter... A person like him would always ensure justice," Jui added.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis said Pragya's comments were wrong
Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis was the first senior BJP leader who condemned Pragya's remarks in strong words. On Saturday, Fadnavis advised Pragya to be "careful while speaking". "Karkare was a brave police officer. He gave his life fighting for this country. The country considers him a martyr and to make this statement was wrong," Fadnavis said. Notably, Pragya had apologized for her comments.
