Minority affairs minister AR Antulay is expected to continue in his post as the Centre is preparing a ?factual statement? to be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday that will explain government?s position on the killing of Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare without disputing the senior minister?s comments on the subject that resulted in a storm leading to pandemonium in parliament for the last few days.
An angry opposition on Monday persisted with its demand to sack Antulay after describing his statements as ?anti-national?, forcing both houses of Parliament to adjourn a number of times. Antulay, however, was unfazed and was seen gesturing opposition members with a ?thumbs up? sign as they sought to raise the ante on the issue since Tuesday is the last day of parliament.
Responding to the demands made by the opposition, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said in the Rajya Sabha that the government will make a statement on the issue on Tuesday, although it was unclear whether Mukherjee or home minister P Chidambaram will do it.
That Antulay was in the ?safe zone? became evident when the minister kept up his defiant stance and rejected opposition charge that his statement on Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare?s killing has weakened India?s case vis a vis Pakistan. ?I knew that it was right, when I had made the statement. I gave the statement because it was right,? he told reporters while responding to Congress leader?s Digvijay Singh?s views backing him on the matter. He, however, refused to answer a question on whether there is any confusion in Congress with different party leaders giving different reactions to his remarks.