Antulay remains defiant, says, ‘I owe no explanation’

Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay was on Thursday at the centre of a storm he had created with his comments on the killing of Maharashtra ATS Chief Hemant Karkare with the Opposition parties demanding his removal but he remained unfazed.

"I owe explanation to none. I have not said anything which has embarrassed the Government and the Congress party. In fact, I have helped the government," he said responding to the uproar in Parliament and outside over his comments questioning the circumstances in which Karkare was killed by Pakistani terrorists in Mumbai on Nov 26.

Opposition members in both the Houses of Parliament created an uproar raking up the demand for his sacking from the Cabinet for his ‘irresponsible statement’ and a statement from the Prime Minister.

The minister, who was seated in one of the ministerial Benches in the Lok Sabha, was seen smiling and did not respond to Opposition members' attack on him