India on Friday said it had taken up with Malaysia the issue of alleged mistreatment of people of Indian origin in Kuala Lumpur but evaded a direct reply on reports of their links with terrorists.
"So far as the question of people of Indian origin in Malaysia is concerned, we have taken it up with the government there," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told media persons in New Delhi.
On reported remarks of a Malaysian government official that the PIOs had links with a terror group, the minister said he had not seen the text of the said observation.
"So far, I have not seen the text of the observations made by the Malaysian government," Mukherjee said.
He said the terrorist activities by any citizen of any country are dealt with in accordance with international convention in that regard and all nations take appropriate action as per the law.
Mukherjee, however, said a terrorist should not be identified on the basis of his nationality or country of origin.
"A terrorist is a terrorist. A terrorist is a criminal against humanity," the minister said.
A police crackdown on a protest in Kuala Lumpur activists of NGO Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) on November 25 triggered allegations of discrimination faced by the community in Malaysia.
It also set off a war of words among leaders of the two countries and culminated in India summoning the Malaysian envoy in New Delhi to lodge protest against the alleged discrimination.