EC issues notice to Pragya Thakur on her remarks against Karkare

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Bhopal, April 20

The Election Commission on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to Malegaon blast accused and BJP candidate from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur over her remark about Hemant Karkare, the Maharashtra ATS chief who was killed in the 26/11 terror attack, an official said here.

Addressing BJP workers here Thursday night, Thakur had claimed that Karkare died during the attack as she had "cursed" him for torturing her when he probed the blast case as chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad.

However, after her remarks kicked up a row, she tendered an apology on Friday.

"We took suo motu cognisance of the statement and sought a report from the assistant returning officer (ARO) on the matter. We got the report this morning and we have issued notice, which is returnable within 24 hours, to the organiser of the programme and the person who made the statement," District Election Officer and Bhopal Collector Sudam Khade told PTI.

"We have also sent ARO report's copy to the EC," he said.

Asked about the point of serving the notice to her as she has already tendered apology, Khade said: "Let her reply, then we will decide".

The organiser of the Thursday's event had been given permission on certain conditions as the model code of conduct was in force, he said.

One of the conditions was that "objectionable language to defame anyone" will not be used, he said.

Out on bail, Thakur (48) is facing trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the blast case.

The BJP 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 on Friday with opposition parties attacking the BJP and the Congress demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The saffron party distanced itself from her comments, saying it was her "personal view" that could have been made "due to years of physical and mental torture". PTI