Act against Mumbai plotters, India tells Pakistan

New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed has said any further movement on India-Pakistan ties will depend on Islamabad acting against perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack.

Replying to questions on India TV’s Aap Ki Adalat show, Khursheed said: “Our then home minister (P.) Chidambaram had given a list to his Pakistani counterpart seeking voice recordings of the perpetrators but we are yet to receive them. In such a situation, it’s not possible to move ahead.”

Asked why the government had allowed the Pakistan cricket team to tour India, Khursheed replied: “If Pakistan understands the language of cricket, we will try to speak to them in that language, if it understands the language of war, we will definitely speak to them in that language, and if it understands the language of dialogue, we will do likewise.”

He said after Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab was hanged in Pune, India sent a letter to his family, asking them to take the body, but there was no reply.

“So we buried the body as per rules and fulfilled our duty.”

The minister said Pakistan had been urged several times to take action against those who masterminded the Mumbai terror attack of 2008 that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead.

“If there has to be further movement in our relations, Pakistan must show accountability.”

Khursheed appealed to all Indians to speak in one voice over issues related to Pakistan.

“If we speak in different voices, our enemies will presume that we are weak. So we should have a united voice, and if anybody dares to attack, we will give them a befitting reply.”

Khursheed hit out at activist Arvind Kejriwal for hurling corruption allegations against him.

Indirectly referring to Kejriwal, he said: “Some mean (neech) person had levelled charges against us. I don’t know whether Kejriwal has ever helped a man to cross the road. He never did any good work in his life.”

Asked why he used the remark “naali ka keeda” (filthy insect) for Kejriwal, Khursheed said: “If someone is a naali ka keeda, I will have to describe him so.

“And if he thinks he is a dengue spreading mosquito, then the NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Corpoation) will take care of such people.”

IANS 2012-12-01 19:06:24