Antulay has the last laugh

Buckling under consistent Opposition pressure, the government may force Minorities Affairs minister A R Antulay to apologise for his controversial statement on the circumstances leading to ATS chief Hemant Karkare's death."Antulay will have to apologise or be sent packing," a senior Congress leader said.However, Antulay remained unfazed and said there was "no difference" in his stand over the issue. "No decision has been taken on my resignation," Antulay said.The Opposition rocked the parliament on Monday, demanding immediate sacking of the minister. The government assured the vociferous opposition that it will make a statement on Tuesday. Nabbed terrorist Ajmal Amir Qasab had confessed that he and his companion killed Karkare and others outside Cama Hospital. On Monday, MEA joint secretary T C A Raghavan handed over a hand written letter to Afrasiab, Pakistan's Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi, in which Qasab sought legal assistance and a meeting with Pakistani officials. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry briefed US spies on the November 26, 2008 attack. Director of National Intelligence John Michel McConnell met Home Minister P Chidambaram, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, senior Intelligence Bureau officials and reviewed investigations into the terror attacks.