Hindustan Times
Digvijay courts controversy again
Digvijay Singh is certainly one of the shrewdest politicians of the present day. However, he also has the knack of getting into controversies repeatedly. His recent statement on his conversation with the slain Mumbai top Cop Hemant Karkare hours before his death has sent the Congress scurrying for cover. His party has both distanced itself from these remarks and also made it abundantly clear that it was in his personal capacity that Digvijay had stated what he had.
The Congress general secretary said to be close to Rahul Gandhi is unfazed by the criticism and reiterated that in his talk with Karkare, the top cop had told him about the death threats he was receiving after he started the investigations against some Hindu groups for their alleged involvement in the Malegaon blasts. Even if this is true, many may argue that what was the need for Digvijay to bring this in public domain, two years after the Mumbai terror strikes had taken place in which Karkare was killed by Kasab and his associate.
I too wonder why he did so especially since Karkare is no longer there to give his side of the story. Secondly, Karkare became a martyr for his country and we all know that he was shot dead by the Pakistani terrorists.
Therefore talking about Malegon in relation to the slain cop has invited criticism from all sides. In all fairness to Digvijay, he has clarified that he had no doubt that Karkare was a victim of Pakistan inspired terror but he found it relevant to also mention the threats he was receiving from Hindu terror groups. I would say that the comments were very ill timed though they must have not been made without a reason.
While most people came down heavily on him, Digvijay’s stock for speaking out against Hindu terror did earn him appreciation from some Muslim quarters. They found his statement very comforting since he did not try to conceal the ugly side of Hindu terror while condemning the terror outfits.
Digvijay to my mind must be working to a plan and once in a while factors in many controversial theories in order to remain in the news as also to look like a champion of the minority view. Obviously, he is going to be back in electoral politics in 2013 after his self exile ends. For 2014 polls, he could be a major player. His statements may then become handy while wooing certain sections of the electorate. But for the time being, his actions are being viewed with a lot of suspicion.
(26 votes, average: 1.46 out of 5)
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