Adamant Antulay puts Cong in spot

NEW DELHI: With AR Antulay refusing to retract his theory on Hemant Karkare���s murder, there is fear in the Congress about a significant depletion of its moral authority.

Although the Congress core committee, which met here on Saturday, was of the view that the minister will have to withdraw his controversial statement if he has to continue in office, the leadership is yet to summon courage to sack the minister. Party���s own senior leaders are complicating matters with their support to the spurious formulation of Mr Antulay.

It be recalled that AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh had on Saturday come out in support of the minister. ���What he has asked for is a probe. What is objectionable in his statement,��� Mr Singh had asked. Incidentally, the Congress��� own state government in Maharashtra had two days ago rejected the demand for a probe into the killing of Mr Karkare.

The Congress is finding it difficult to draw a lakshman rekha around the minister for other reasons as well. In the past two days, a number of influential Muslim leaders and MPs belonging to the ruling side, as well as the Opposition, have endorsed the statement made by Mr Antulay.

The minister was also digging in his heels by saying that his statement merely reflected the views of a large section. This is certain to make the decision of the Congress more difficult as any action against the minister holds the potential of offending these ���sentiments���.

Meanwhile, the Left, which has so far been silent on the issue, asked the government to make its stand clear. ���The remarks of Mr Antulay have drawn contradictory reactions from the Congress leadership. While the spokesmen of the party have distanced the Congress from Antulay���s remark and even suggested that he should withdraw them or face removal from the Cabinet, Mr Digvijay Singh has said that there was nothing wrong in what he has said. It���s time the Congress leadership put an end to the controversy,��� CPI general secretary AB Bardhan said.

The Congress is expected to debate the issue once again on Monday as the government has promised to make a statement on the issue in Parliament. As it cannot meet the demand of the minister, it has no option left but to ask the minister to retract. And that is something Mr Antulay is just not prepared till now.