Click to play videoNew Delhi: Almost three years after A R Antulay's swearing-in ceremony, the Minorities Minister finally means business.
By grabbing headlines over the conspiracy theory he has voiced concerning the death of Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, Hemant Karkare, A R Antulay he has tied the Government in knots.
However, what is remarkable is that the minister himself is hardly in a minority, with support pouring in for his comments from likeminded allies.
Railways Minister Lalu Prasad has said, "All Mr Antulay is saying is that he wants to know how Hemant Karkare went on the route that he did that night. Antulay probably meant there should be an inquiry to ascertain who sent Karkare to Cama hospital where he was killed."
Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh has added, "Antulay is a friend of mine and I will not criticise him or ask for his resignation."
It's this support which has given renewed confidence to a man who had become part of political history and an unrepentant Antulay says he has not embarrassed his party or the Government, but that he has spoken out for several Indians instead.
Antulay had earlier said, "My party is not embarrassed of me. My party is proud of me, of the fact that there are people in the party who speak out the truth."
It is now Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi who are in a fix. While Antulay has offered to resign in a letter to the Prime Minister, the duo are worried that there could be political fallout if the minister is sent packing.
Antulay has some support within his party - especially from his own community. This, coupled with the fact that there is apprehension within the Congress that some of the stringent clauses of the new law could upset Muslims, means that accepting his resignation could result in trouble for the Congress.
However, the other side to be considered is the fact that Antulay has helped Pakistan's case and at a time when India has taken a tough diplomatic stand against its neighbour, silencing A R Antulay makes sense - at least before the international community.
With increasing criticism from the BJP and the fact that Pakistan is using the entire issue for its own advantage, it is obvious that Antulay is proving to be a big embarrassment for the UPA.
(With inputs from Smitha Nair in New Delhi)
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