Jaipur: Condemning the conspiracy theory over the death of ATS chief Hemant Karkare propounded by A R Antulay, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today demanded dismissal of the Union Minority Affairs Minister.

"Antulay's remarks will not only disintegrate the unity of the country but are also very dangerous," Naidu alleged, saying the minister should be prosecuted under sedition charges.

Antulay had triggered a controversy by raising doubts over the circumstances leading to the death of Karkare, who was killed by Pakistani terrorists during the November 26 Mumbai attacks.

Condemning Antulay's remarks, Naidu claimed that while Pakistan was rejoicing over the statement, the people of the country were shocked.

He also criticised AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh for allegedly backing Antulay. The latter had said: "What is objectionable in his statement and he has been misreported".

He wondered why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi were silence on the issue.

Lashing out at Congress, Naidu alleged the party was playing vote bank politics while the entire world was supporting India over the terrorist attack.

Naidu also criticised Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's five-page statement which reconstructed the sequence of events before Karkare was gunned down but had no reference to Antulay s statement.

He said his party will raise the issue strongly both in parliament and public.
Source : PTI