Blaming Pakistan for sponsoring terror in India and providing havens to fugitive terrorists, including Dawood Ibrahim, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the neighbouring country is not taking initiative to punish those involved in 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Addressing the Hindustan Times leadership Summit here, Singh said that though India wants to maintain cordial relations with Pakistan, Islamabad seems not too keen on establishing friendly relations with New Delhi.Singh said Pakistan is not taking initiative to punish those involved in 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as the case in that country is moving at a very slow pace.
Referring to the slow pace of ongoing case against the terrorists involved in Mumbai terror attacks, he said, “Pakistan is not helping in the judicial process. In fact it is trying to scuttle it.”On whether India will make efforts to have dialogue with Pakistan, the Home Minister said New Delhi wants friendly relations with not only Pakistan but with all the neighbouring countries as well as others nations across the world.
“There should be efforts from Pakistan side too to maintain cordial relations. We always want friendly relations. But from their side, there should be at least talk of friendship. There should be feeling to make friendship (by Pak)... But I believe, sometime sooner some breakthrough will come,” he said.
Asked whether India will, on its own, take the initiative to have dialogue with Pakistan, he said, “let’s see. We will wait. We will see what Pakistan does (in coming days).”When reminded that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made his intention clear by announcing that he would like to have talks first with Kashmiri separatists before engaging in dialogue with India, the Home Minister said if Pakistan’s stand is clear, then our stand is also clear.
Referring to various internal security challenges, he said the NDA Government make all efforts to secure the country.“There are internal security problems, external security problems and externally-aided security challenges. We need State Governments’ cooperation. We are getting help from the State Government. To meet the internal security challenges, we will leave no stone unturned,” he said.
Asked about the “perception” that the Prime Minister’s Office is running the internal security establishment, Singh said it was not the case as Modi has given full independence to all Ministries.However, he quipped, “The whole Government is run by the Prime Minister. We are working as his associates. There is nothing wrong in it. But I have to tell you that the Prime Minister has given full independence to all Ministries”.
Assuring full protection to minority communities, the Home Minister said the NDA Government will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of caste, creed and religion.“I want to fully assure everyone — be Muslim, be Christian, be Sikh or be Jews — whoever is an Indian citizen is our family member. We will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of caste, creed and religion. Our every action is on the basis of justice and humanity,” he said.
Referring to threat from ISIS and al-Qaeda to India, the Home Minister said the country is doing its best to counter their challenge.
“We have not only taken cognisance of their threat but we are going beyond taking cognisance. Whatever steps we have to take, whatever precautions we have to take, we will take. We are preparing our strategy,” he said.The Home Minister said non-state actors based in some neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan were trying to incite terrorism in India. “But I do not want to blame the Governments of these country as they are not involved in it,” he said.
On the insurgency in the North-East, he said the Government is ready for talks with the insurgent groups but violence and talks cannot go together. He also said the Government is taking steps against the sense of alienation created by the political forces in the region.