Zeenews Bureau
Uri (J&K), Dec 03: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s rejection of India’s demand of handing over 20 fugitive terrorists, has earned sharp reactions from the Indian side. The Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday asserted that the country will not bow down before terrorism and will give a befitting reply to anti-India elements through democratic means.
Apparently giving a strong message to Islamabad, Sonia said, “Our friendship with Pakistan should not be misconstrued. India wants to develop peaceful bilateral ties with all its neighbours but this should not be taken as our weakness.”
Sonia’s comments came while addressing a rally in Uri district of Jammu & Kashmir.
Describing India as a peace loving country, Sonia said that no one should be under illusion that it can be won by terrorism or disruptive means.
“Terrorism is against democracy, and we will fight back by giving a befitting reply through diplomatic channels”, she added.
She said there will be no compromise with those who are against humanity and human values.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal today described Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s remarks as “inappropriate”.
The minister said, “Zardari’s statement is an attack on India. We can’t tolerate terror incidents anymore and if such incidents recur we will take it as a war, no matter what is the outcome. We can’t wait anymore.”
The main opposition BJP has also expressed the need for UN intervention in the matter.
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government should initiate steps to attack terrorist camps in Pakistan.
However, there has been no official reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding Zardari’s blatant refusal to handover terrorists as demanded by the Indian government.
In a TV interview, President Zardari has categorically refuted New Delhi’s claims that his country was involved in last week's deadly terror strikes in Mumbai.
The Pak President also demanded tangible proof from the Indian authorities to prove that the arrested terrorist Azmal Kasab is a Pakistani national.
"I am definitely going to look into all the possibility of any proof that is given to us," the Pak President said. "At the moment, these are just names of individuals. No proof, no investigation, nothing has been brought forward," Zardari said.
Pakistani President claimed that he believes the attacks on India’s financial capital were carried out by “stateless actors”.
If enough evidence of the individuals' involvement is provided, Zardari said, "We would try them in our courts, we would try them in our land, and we would sentence them."
Top Indian government officials have publicly held Pakistan-based militants as responsible for the ghastly Mumbai attacks, and New Delhi has served a demarche to Islamabad to hand over 20 wanted fugitives, some of whom are suspected of plotting the November 26 terror attack. The names on the list include underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Mohammad and Jaish-e-Mohammad supremo Masood Azhar.
First Published: Wednesday, December 03, 2008, 00:00