Congress can't decide: support or sack Antulay

New Delhi: The Congress is in a mess over Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay, who has “resigned” after his statements on the death of a senior police officer embarrassed the Government.

Antulay created a storm in Parliament after he suggested that the death of Hemant Karkare, chief of Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad, during the terrorist attacks on Mumbai on November 26 could be linked to the September 29 Malegaon bombing in which members of Hindu radical groups are suspects.

Antulay later said he didn’t doubt that terrorists had killed Karkare, but wanted a probe into who ordered him to go after the militants on November 26. The Congress first said that Antulay’s statements were not the party’s view, but on Saturday a senior leader supported the minister.

Digvijay Singh, secretary general of the All India Congress Committee, said Antulay had been “misreported” and his demand for a probe was not wrong.

"Antulay has been misreported. What he has asked for is a probe, which is already on. What is objectionable in his statement?" said Singh, a former chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

"This possibility (of Karkare being murdered for the Malegaon blast probe) appears to be low because the course of events minimises it. Antulay has said the matter should be investigated that who ordered him (Karkare) to go there. What is objectionable in that?" he was quoted by PTI as saying.

Sources tell CNN-IBN an important group within the Congress feels Antulay has been misinterpreted and should not resign. The core group of the party met in New Delhi on Saturday but ended without a decision on Antulay’s fate.

Sources say party leaders consider Digvijay’s statement on Antulay as personal.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, two day ago, said Anutaly’s statements were his personal views and not that of the party. "The Congress certainly does not subscribe to his remarks or with his formulation," said Singhvi. "He made the remarks in his individual capacity." The party seems to be rethinking that view now.