India asked Pak to expedite Mumbai 26/11 attacks probe: Sushma

New Delhi, Dec.14 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that during her visit to Pakistan last week, she had raised the issue of the 26/11 terror attack with the Pakistani leadership thouroughly, and had asked Islamabad to fullfill its promise to expedite the probe.

In a statement delivered in the Rajya Sabha amidst opposition protests, Swaraj said, “We raised the issue of Mumbai 26/11 attacks probe and asked Pakistan to expedite the trial process.”

In her statement, which was largely inaudible because of the opposition repeatedly calling for a stop to the proceedings in the house, Swaraj detailed the circumstances under which her visit was organised and what took place in Islamabad with the Pakistani leadership. She said that it has always been the Indian Government’s endeavour to maintain relations with neighbouring countries, including Pakistan.

She further said that she hoped that the decision to have a bilateral composite dialogue with Pakistan would yield the results expected by the leaderships and people of both countries.

Earlier, she said in a tweet, “I will make a statement on my recent visit to Islamabad tomorrow at 11 am in Rajya Sabha and at 2 pm in Lok Sabha.”

Swaraj during her two day visit to Pakistan last week, had attended the ‘Heart of Asia’ conference and held bilateral talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his adviser Sartaj Aziz.

Both sides, accordingly, agreed to a “Comprehensive” Bilateral Dialogue, and directed the Foreign Secretaries of their respective countries to work out the modalities and schedule of the meetings.

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were first adjourned till 11. 30 a.m. by Deputy Speaker P.J.Kurien after the Congress Party and other opposition members refused to relent on their protests with regard to what they called the abysmal law and order situation in Punjab.

The opposition repeatedly insisted that the Shiromani Akali Dal-led government in Punjab should be dismissed immediately, and till this objective was not achieved, they would not allow the Upper House of Parliament to function.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the SAD Government in Punjab was mafia-like in its administration and demanded that his party and others would allow the Rajya Sabha to function only after the Punjab Government is dismissed.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and BJP leader M.A. Naqvi said, “We (the government) condemn the incidents in Punjab. We have been assured by the state government that they bring the culprits to book,but why raise state-related issues in the Rajya Sabha.”

The town of Abohar in Punjab had witnessed three days of disquiet following the brutal murder of a man at liqour baron and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Shiv Lal Doda’s farmhouse.

Though the situation the area was said to be returning to normal with markets opening on Sunday and Monday, the liquor shops reportedly owned by Doda remained closed.

There was heavy police deployment in and around his business establishments and houses, even as reports in the media say that Doda, nephew Amit and five accomplices are yet to be taken into custody despite police registering a case against them on Saturday for the murder of 27-year-old former employee Bhim Tank, whose arms and legs were chopped off the previous day and he bled to death in an Amritsar hospital.

Bhim’s friend Gurjant aka Janta Lahoria suffered a similar fate and is now battling for life in hospital.

The National Scheduled Castes Commission had asked police to nab the suspects in three days but people alleged that the administration was going slow because of Doda’s political connections.

Doda’s liquor business is spread across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, and he is said to be close to the Badal family.

Last week, angry people had torched three liquor shops owned by Doda after the brutal attack and a curfew-like situation prevailed in the town until Sunday’s prayer meeting for Bhim, who belonged to a backward community. A large number of mourners gathered at the prayer meet.

Sources said Bhim and his friend were attacked with sharp weapons during a meeting at the liquor baron’s farmhouse in Ramsara village on Friday morning where the duo had gone to settle a dispute with Harry, another employee of Doda, over a sexual abuse case.

But the meeting turned ugly and soon developed into a full-blown clash. The two victims were grossly outnumbered and their limbs chopped off.

Bhim’s family and villagers blamed Doda’s nephew Amit, who manages the liquor business, for the murder.

Abohar superintendent of police Harjit Singh confirmed the clash but Amit denied the charges, saying he was out of town when the incident occurred.

Reports on Bhim’s criminal history have also come out after his death. He apparently had 15 FIRs registered against him while a woman on December 2 accused him of rape, a case for which the meeting was called at Doda’s farmhouse. (ANI)