Sarabjit Singh’s death in a Pakistan hospital after a murderous assault on him in a jail there triggered an outrage in the Indian Parliament on Thursday.
Both Houses expressed shock at his death and adopted resolutions condemning the ‘inhuman treatment’ meted out to him in Pakistan jail.
The Government was in the line of fire of the Opposition MPs who raised anti-Pakistan slogans in the lok Sabha. Akali Dal MPs also trooped into the Well of the House on acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in anti-Sikh Sikh riots of 1984.
Syed Shahnawaz Hussain (BJP) was heard questioning in the lok Sabha as to why the House was not condemning Pakistan. SP members were also in the Well raising slogans against the Government over the issue of Chinese incursions in ladakh and wanted the Government to respond in the matter.
As members were unrelenting, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the proceedings till 11.30 am. Similar scenes were witnessed when the House reassembled, prompting M Thambidurai (AIADMK), who was in the Chair, to adjourn the proceedings till noon.
The lok Sabha passed the resolution after two adjournments. “This House expresses its deep sense of shock and sorrow on the sad demise of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian citizen in Jinnah Hospital, lahore in Pakistan On after he was brutally assaulted by his fellow inmates in a Pakistan jail,” said the resolution moved by Speaker Meira Kumar. “This House condemns the inhuman treatment meted out to Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan jail and hopes that the culprits will be brought to book,” said the resolution.
The House mourned the demise with members standing in silence for a while as a mark of respect to Sarabjit.
In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said, “The House deeply mourns the demise of Sarabjit Singh and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved family.” later, the members, who protested the death of Sarabjit and condemned the murderous assault, rose in silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.