Bail to Lakhvi is a serious blow to humanity, India has sent strong message to Pak: Modi

TNN

New Delhi, Dec 19, 2014: Prime Minister Modi made a statement in Parliament on Friday on the granting of bail to 26/11 accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

 

Saying that India had sent a strong message to Pakistan, the Prime Minister said in the Lok Sabha, "bail to LeT commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi has come as a shock and is a serious blow to all those who believe in humanity the world over, especially as it comes right after the terror attack in Peshawar."

 

Modi said India has expressed its concern and sentiments over this development to Pakistan and had sent out a strong message to Pakistan.

 

Referring to the attack on school children in Peshawar, Modi said, "India is not less saddened than Pakistan by what happened in Peshawar; there are tears in the eyes of each and every Indian."

 

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also made a statement on the issue. She said Pakistan had made mockery of their commitment of fighting terror groups without hesitation, by granting bail to Lakhvi."

 

Swaraj added, "We reject the argument that the evidence against Lakhvi, who is the mastermind of 26/11, was not sufficient."

 

The Lok Sabha then passed a resolution condemning bail granted to the 26/11 accused. The resolution asked the government to take steps to put pressure on Paistan to bring the matter related to 26/11 to satisfactory conclusion.

 

Earlier, a day after a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court granted bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the key handler in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, India conveyed its strong concerns and sentiments of people to Pakistan through diplomatic channels, MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.

 

 

The release of Lakhvi will make a mockery of Pakistan’s commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions, India told Pakistan.

 

"Despite repeated assurances that have been received, we have seen both the prosecution of the seven accused in the anti-terror court in Islamabad, as also the investigation by the authorities into the larger conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai attack case, proceeding at a glacial pace.

 

"The story of repeated postponements, adjournments and unavailability of concerned law officers or witnesses is well documented and does not require repetition. The move to grant bail to Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi yesterday has taken this saga to another level," official spokesperson in the external affairs ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.

 

 

"We have, therefore, forthwith communicated to Pakistan through diplomatic channels our strong concerns on this matter and the sentiments across the spectrum of Indian society that that this will make a mockery of Pakistan’s commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions," the spokesperson said.

 

Lakhvi’s bail came a day after India expressed full solidarity with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Peshawar massacre, and the court order led New Delhi to react strongly against the bail. The court said the charge-sheet against Lakhvi and other accused was flawed and lacking in evidence. The prosecutor did not say whether the government would appeal in a higher court against the court’s bail order.