BJP candidate Pragya Singh Thakur could end up hurting her party in Maharashtra with people across various backgrounds slamming her comment that her curse had killed police officer Hemant Karkare, who died while tackling the 26/11 attackers. A month later he was shot dead by terrorists.”The BJP has described Karkare as a martyr and Pragya’s comments as her “personal views” but has not condemned the statement. “Hemant Karkare is a hero for the people of Maharashtra,” said Srimant Mane, a political analyst here, adding that Pragya’s comments would only make her party “unpopular”. This is wrong.”Nitin Pawar, a bank employee here, said Pragya’s comment would surely weaken the BJP’s chances. “If they succeed in making it an issue, the BJP will suffer.”Nashik police commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil, who was part of the Karkare-led team that fought the 26/11 terrorists, declined to comment on Pragya’s statement.

Source: The Telegraph April 21, 2019 23:48 UTC