The deadly terror strikes in Mumbai kept people glued to the TV sets for days together. It was a case of watching televised terror live in drawing rooms. Now, having wasted so much time, the people are feeling that they were taken for a ride by most of the channels. They feel they are not wiser, but rather more confused and more bewildered. Most of the channels play on sentiments and are not concerned with truth. Media persons are becoming conscious about their weakness and seriously contemplating corrective steps. We wish them Godspeed.
Union Minority Affairs Minister AR Antulay’s insinuation in the Lok Sabha debate that ATS Maharashtra chief Hemant Karkare’s murder, during Mumbai attacks, might have been some insider’s work, has raised a new storm in the media. BJP has alleged that such remarks weaken our resolve and fight against terror. Therefore they are opposed tooth and nail to any investigation in the death of Karkare.
Mr. Antulay’s demand for a fair and high level investigation in this death must be seen in the proper perspective. Bomb blasts and terror strikes are becoming a regular feature in our country. They increase in ferocity and frequency before elections. It is not clear why foreign inspired terrorists are interested in determining the direction of our elections. Or are they interested in favouring a particular political party?
Year 2008 witnessed ghastly blasts in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Assam and recently in Mumbai. Hundreds lost their lives and millions were terrorised. The blame for most of these blasts was laid on Muslim youth. It is a painful and long story of well-planned and dexterously executed but highly suspicious terror attacks which were followed by wild allegations, arbitrary arrests, inhuman torture of arrested persons, summary trials and fake encounters. Mostly Muslims were the targets of these atrocities.
Mr Karkare, for the first time, unmasked the faces of Hindutva terrorists behind Malegaon blasts. His investigations were providing leads to unravel mysteries behind other blasts in Nanded, Parbhani, Kanpur and even in Samjhauta Express. Just one day before Mumbai attack, the name of VHP rabble rouser, Pravin Togadia appeared on the radar of Karkare. This fact also should be considered that for one week he was receiving threats from some sources. It is strange that Karkare was killed the very next day during the Mumbai attack. It is quite possible that in the confusion of attack some insider did the work of eliminating Karkare who had become eyesore of certain elements. People will have a genuine doubt that people who were against Karkare and his investigation might have played a role in eliminating him during that confusion.
Now Sangh Parivar says it is anti-national to doubt the death of Karkare in the hands of terrorists. They say that raising doubts is equal to playing in the hands of foreign terrorists. The truth is that they were themselves raising doubts about integrity of ATS chief when he was unmasking Hindutva terror in the personalities of a militant Sadhvi, a self-styled godman and a serving military officer.
Therefore Antulay is right in demanding investigation in Karkare’s death. Justice and fairness demand that there should be a high level enquiry by retired Supreme Court or High Court judges in this murder. Victimisation of innocents should be stopped and the real perpetrators must be brought to justice.