Kolkata: The BJP on Thursday demanded that instead
of carrying on `cricket diplomacy`, the UPA government should
exert appropriate diplomatic pressure on Pakistan forcing it
to initiate steps against those accountable for their role in
the Mumbai terror attack.
"India should immediately take up with Pakistan claims
made by Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11
Mumbai attack case, that he had acted at the behest of
Pakistan government and ISI and not terror outfit
Lashkar-e-Taiba," BJP national spokesperson Tarun Vijay said
on Thursday.
Simultaneously, the UPA government should also mount
pressure on Pakistan to give up POK (Pakistan-Occupied
Kashmir), Vijay said.
Rana, the Pakistani-Canadian accused in the Mumbai
terror case, has claimed in court documents that his "alleged
illegal acts of providing material support to terrorists --
were done at the behest of the Pakistani government and the
ISI, not the Lashkar terrorist organisation."
Rana`s disclosures have brought to the fore India`s
suspicion that Pakistan`s government and the ISI had a role in
the 26/11 attacks that left 166 dead.
Strongly criticising cricket diplomacy with Pakistan, the
BJP MP said, "Such an effort is useless, unless and until
steps are taken by Pakistan against those responsible for the
heinous crime against India in Mumbai."
"The cricket diplomacy will turn into a second Sharm
el-Shaikh, if India fails to force Pakistan act against
perpetrators of terror acts in India," he said.
PTI
