: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has questioned the “credibility” of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after charges against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur were dropped in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The AAP also accused the BJP of weakening the country’s premier counter-terrorism body.
Karkare’s role
The party also attacked the NIA and the BJP for questioning the role of slain Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was heading the agency when it arrested Sadhvi Pragya and Col Shrikant Purohit, and asked it to apologise for raising doubts over his investigation.
“The BJP and the NIA should apologise for raising doubts about Karkare, who laid his life for the nation. He had served in the RAW for a long time and only officers with integrity are chosen in the spy agency,” AAP leader Ashish Khetan said.
Hemant Karkare was killed in 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008 and was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra on January 26, 2009.
Probe fund usage
Raising doubts over NIA Director General Sharad Kumar’s role in the probe pertaining to right-wing groups, Mr. Khetan demanded investigation into how Rs. 4 crore of secret fund was used as over 49 witnesses have turned hostile in the case.
“The BJP is weakening the credibility of the investigating agency. Earlier the CBI was being called a caged parrot. Now the NIA is also like a caged parrot,” Mr. Khetan said.
Saving right-wing groups
The AAP leader said the NIA was systematically weakening cases against right-wing groups. Targeting Kumar, the AAP leader said the NIA chief has been retained on “contract” despite his retirement, which is contrary to the IPS rules and service norms.
“In the Samjhauta blast case, which is going on in Panchkula, Mr. Kumar watered down NIA’s response to Swami Aseemanand’s bail plea. In different terror cases in which RSS people are involved, 49 witnesses have turned hostile. These witnesses have been pressurised to change their statements,” he alleged, adding that “both the BJP and the UPA have been politicising terror cases.”
Khetan says NIA is weakening cases against right-wing groups; slams chief of agency
