BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday crossed swords over clandestine and continued stay of international criminal and fugitive Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan and Government’s “inaction” to bring him back to justice in India.
In an interview to a Gujarati channel Sandesh News, Modi took Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to task for publicising his so-called plan to bring Dawood in the country as the Congress rubbished his criticism and challenged him to come out with his action plan to do the same.Shinde had in the recent past claimed that he had a plan to ferret out Dawood from Pakistan. Months after, the Home Minister, however, did not seek to add any material evidence to his high claim made before television cameras as how he was trying “to smoke out” the criminal who is already under red-corner Interpol arrest notice.
It is well known that Dawood, declared as the most wanted terrorist by the United Nation, was, for long, living under the direct protection of the Pakistan Inter-State-Services at an upmarket street in Karachi.Responding to questions about Shinde’s statement that India will bring back Dawood from Pakistan, Modi said, “Can such things be achieved through media. Are these things to be revealed through newspapers. Did Americans talk with bin ladenIJ Did America hold a Press conference on its plans about tracking down bin ladenIJ
“What has the Government doneIJ They don’t have minimum maturity. I am ashamed that the Home Minister made such statements.”Congress leader P Chidambaram, former Home Minister, said the Government cannot send commandos to Pakistan to bring back Dawood and wondered whether Modi can suggest something better.“We know that he is being sheltered by the Government of Pakistan. If those who say we are not doing enough, please tell us what more a Government should do. Should we send half a dozen black cat commandos to get him backIJ Strange arguments,” he said.
“We know he (Dawood) lives in Karachi and from there he goes to Middle East and comes back. But how do you get a person, who is being given shelter by Pakistan.... Modi should say what we should do. There is a red corner notice against him.“If we can apprehend him, we will do it. ...We can’t engage in any kind of clandestine activity. We can’t go to Pakistan.”
Dawood, accused of masterminding the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and a number of other terrorist acts in the country, is the most wanted fugitive. He is believed to be staying in Pakistan. India has sought his extradition. Attempts to bring him back to India did not fructify due to Pakistan’s non-cooperation.