The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking action against Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar for allegedly defaming the saffron party candidate in Mumbai North Central and lawyer Ujjwal Nikam.
Wadettiwar on Saturday, May 4, accused Nikam of hiding information about the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. According to Wadettiwar, then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare was not killed by terrorist Ajmal Kasab; instead he was hit by a bullet fired by a police officer affiliated with the RSS.
The Congress leader had also reportedly called Nikam an “anti-national”.
Also read: 'No one can call India a 'banana nation': BJP's Mumbai North Central candidate Ujjwal Nikam praises PM Modi
“We have written to the Election Commission of India seeking action against Wadettiwar, a top campaigner (of the Congress), and also against the Congress party for spreading lies,” newswire said. PTI reported, quoting Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar.
Shelar said that as a responsible leader, the opposition leader should stop making comments that could “help the enemy nation.”
Also read: Congress' Vijay Wadettiwar triggers war of words with comment 'Kasab did not kill 26/11 hero Hemant Karkare' – Story so far
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora said such comments by the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly are shameful and the Opposition party is busy “cleaning” Pakistan.
Following the outrage, Vijay Wadettiwar clarified that the statements were not his own but rather quoted from the book written by SM Mushrif, a former Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra.
At least 166 people were killed and countless others injured in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, carried out by Pakistani terrorists. Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist captured alive by the Mumbai Police. In 2009, Karkare was posthumously honored with the Ashoka Chakra for his bravery and sacrifice during the tragic incident.
Former public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam of the saffron party is contesting against Congress' Mumbai unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad.
Also read: Ujjwal Nikam replaces Poonam Mahajan for the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat. Why has BJP dropped the two-term MP?
The parliamentary constituency was won by BJP's Poonam Mahajan in 2014 and 2019.
On May 3, Nikam said that entering politics is a new challenge for him. However, he said that he did not enter politics for any gain but to contribute to the steps taken by the Modi government.
Nikam has handled several high-profile cases in the country, including the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and the Khairlanji case.
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Published: May 6, 2024 10:21 AM IST