The Election Commission of India has taken suo motu cognizance of BJP Bhopal candidate Pragya Thakur's controversial statement on former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare who was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Thakur had said publicly that Karkare was killed because of her “curse”.
Chief Electoral Officer of Madhya Pradesh, V.L. Kantharao, told THE WEEK that the commission had taken cognizance and was examining the statement of Thakur. Action would be decided later.
Thakur's controversial statement on Karkare has caused widespread furor and the IPS Association has strongly condemned it.
The association wrote on Twitter, "Ashok Chakra awardee late Sri Hemant Karkare IPS made the supreme sacrifice fighting terrorists. Those of us in uniform condemn the insulting statement made by a candidate and demand that sacrifices of all our martyrs be respected."
Thakur alleged at a workers' meet late on Thursday night that Karkare had tortured and abused her severely, therefore she had cursed him. "And within a month and a quarter when sutak (mourning period in Hindu belief) ended, he was killed," Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast, said.
A video of her speech went viral on Friday, creating huge backlash.