New Delhi: Dismissing suggestions of any
setback for India in the plea bargain between 26/11 accused
David Headley and the US government, Congress today said the
life sentence likely to be awarded to him is not a light
punishment.
The party at the same said the government`s stand, that
India has to have full access to him, still stands.
"It should bring to an end speculation and needless
hypothesising on the issue. It is now clear that a fairly
serious sentence of life imprisonment is likely to be imposed
on Headley.
"It is true that he could have been sentenced to death.
But I don`t think it can be said that he has got off too
lightly as even life imprisonment is not that light a
punishment," Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told
reporters here.
Maintaining that the government`s "straight and strong"
demand from the beginning that India has to have full access
to Headley still stands, Singhvi said he has no doubt that the
government "will not diminish the vigour and strength of their
demand on this count".
Asked whether it is not a setback that the extradition
of Headley, a Pakistani-American, to India has now been ruled
out, the Congress leader said, "I do not consider it a setback
at all...."
Singhvi said it is important that each country cooperate
in the process of access in the joint fight against terrorism.
PTI
