'Govt only wants 'satisfactory closure' of 26/11'

Against the backdrop of the ongoing talks with Pakistan, the Bharatiya Janata Party  on Thursday said India appears to have diluted its earlier demand that the neighbouring country take "speedy and credible" action against 26/11 culprits, and instead reconciled to "satisfactory closure" of the case.        

Speaking at a party rally in New Delhi, senior BJP leader L K Advani alleged that Pakistan has not taken "a single credible step" to show that it is serious about acting against the masterminds and perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage.

He maintained that all available evidence shows that elements within the Pakistani ruling establishment were involved in planning and executing these terrorist attacks.

"Now, suddenly, the Indian government has changed its stance for the next round of foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries. Rather than remaining firm in its demand for a speedy and credible trial in the Mumbai attacks, all that the government wants from Pakistan is 'satisfactory closure' of the case," Advani said

He sought to know how the United Progressive Alliance government could talk about "satisfactory closure" now when Pakistan has not shown any seriousness even in "satisfactory beginning" of the investigation and trial.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir are holding bilateral talks in Islamabad on a host of issues. Advani charged that Congress has always followed a soft policy towards Pakistan.

"Obviously, the Congress party's ignoble tradition of cowardice in dealing with Pakistan, that began with Kashmir in the early years of independence, has continued even today," he said.

"There was a time when the Congress was a broad platform that accommodated patriots of all hues. Indeed, it was at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi, that Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who then belonged to the Hindu Maha Sabha, and Dr BR Ambedkar who had been a bitter critic of the Congress Party were included in Pandit Nehru's first Cabinet after Independence," he recalled.

He rejected Congress party's bid to install Rahul Gandhi as prime minister. "India cannot be led either by a weak or inexperienced PM. Our country cannot afford continuation of the misrule that UPA represents," he said amid applause from the party leaders and workers.

The senior BJP leader described as "disturbing" reports that India had conveyed to Pakistan that it was "overall satisfied" with the neighbouring country and is approaching the present talks with "realistic expectations"- understandably a euphemism for softening its stance towards Pakistan on the Mumbai attacks issue.

"It appears that the UPA government has succumbed to pressure from foreign powers and given up its earlier demand that Pakistan must fully and irreversibly dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil and, as proof of its sincerity, bring those involved in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai to speedy justice," Advani said.

He insisted that the country should remain vigilant to ensure that government does not enter into "a clandestine deal with Pakistan" on the Kashmir issue.

Kashmir is likely to figure in the bilateral talks on Friday.

With inputs from PTI