Wadettiwar Accuses BJP’s Nikam of Concealing Truth About Karkare’s Death in 26/11 Mumbai Attack

Mumbai, 6th May 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called upon the Election Commission to take action against Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for spreading falsehoods and tarnishing the reputation of Ujjwal Nikam, the BJP nominee for Mumbai North Central and the prosecutor in the 26/11 case.

Wadettiwar, the opposition leader in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, allegedly labelled Nikam as “anti-national” and accused him of concealing the truth about the demise of then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare during the 26/11 attacks, attributing it to a policeman with RSS affiliations instead of Ajmal Kasab.

His assertions were based on the book “Who Killed Karkare ” by retired police officer SM Mushrif. “As a responsible leader, the opposition leader should refrain from making remarks that could aid our adversaries,” stated Nikam.

Stirring Up Controversy:

Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has sparked controversy by alleging that Hemant Karkare was not killed by Ajmal Kasab but by a policeman affiliated with RSS. He accused Ujjwal Nikam of suppressing this information, branding him a traitor.

Ujjwal Nikam’s Role in 26/11:

Nikam, contesting on the BJP ticket from Mumbai North Central, served as the government’s prosecutor in the 26/11 case. “On 26/11, Hemant Karkare was not shot by Kasab. A police officer shot him on the instructions of RSS. Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam knew this, yet he chose to hide this fact,” alleged Wadettiwar, citing SM Mushrif’s book ‘Who Killed Karkare’.

In response, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Opposition of siding with terrorists by targeting Nikam. “Mahayuti is backing Nikam, while MVA is supporting Kasab. Now you decide whom to vote for,” said Fadnavis.

Senior leader Supriya Shrinate pointed out that the BJP’s candidate had previously spread misinformation about Ajmal Kasab receiving biryani in jail.

Ujjwal Nikam’s Reaction:

Reacting to Wadettiwar’s claims, Nikam expressed dismay, stating, “Wadettiwar’s statement is reckless. It tarnishes my integrity and the memory of the 166 souls and all injured in the 26/11 attacks. Such baseless allegations reflect poorly on the election discourse.”

Maharashtra CM’s Condemnation:

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also denounced the statement, reaffirming Karkare’s sacrifice during the 26/11 attacks.