Indian Minister led to resign because he asked for probe in shooting of Karkare

Indian Minority Affairs Minister resigns

Updated at: 1145 PST, Friday, December 19, 2008

NEW DELHI: Indian Union Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay, who is at the centre of a storm triggered by his remarks on the circumstances surrounding Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare's killing, has sent his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, highly placed sources said on Friday. 79-year-old Antulay, whose remarks created an uproar in Parliament and outside with the opposition parties demanding his removal, had sent his resignation on Wednesday night, they said. Earlier on Wednesday, Antulay set off a major political row by demanding a probe into the shooting of Karkare in the 26/11 terror strikes which he linked to investigations into the alleged involvement of Hindu radicals in the Malegaon blast case.