Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized the Opposition, particularly the Congress, over their objections to Ujjwal Nikam's candidacy from the Mumbai North Central constituency. Fadnavis accused the Opposition of prioritizing support for terrorists by targeting Nikam, the former special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case.
Referring to Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's controversial statement alleging that an RSS-affiliated police officer, not Ajmal Kasab, killed police officer Hemant Karkare, Fadnavis lambasted the Congress for its focus on Kasab rather than the victims of the terror attack. He emphasized the irony of the Congress's concern for Kasab, who was responsible for terrorizing Mumbai during the attacks.
The BJP's decision to nominate Nikam as a candidate had stirred controversy due to his past remarks on Kasab, including the claim that Kasab had demanded biryani in jail. However, Nikam later admitted that he had fabricated the story to counteract the sympathetic sentiment toward Kasab during the trial.
Fadnavis's statement underscores the ongoing political tension surrounding Nikam's candidacy and the broader debate on national security and terrorism in the context of electoral politics.