In a show of unity, the lok Sabha on Friday rallied behind the Government in passing a unanimous resolution condemning the decision of a Pakistani court to grant bail to lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) terrorist and 26/11 mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman lakhvi after the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister apprised the members that "feeling of India" has been sent to Pakistan "in the strongest words".
India asked Pakistan to ensure that the court order be immediately overturned in respect of the main conspirator behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and said by allowing bail to lakhvi, Pakistan "has made mockery of its pledge to fight terrorism".
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Congress party’s leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge and several other MPs cutting across party lines articulating their strong displeasure over lakhvi’s bail order, the lok Sabha adopted a resolution, sending a firm signal to Pakistan to not be selective in dealing with terror groups.
Some of the members drew attention to the scheduled pullout of the US troop from Afghanistan and its possible spillover impact on security scenario in India.
The House resolution condemned the bail granted to lakhvi and asked the Government to take "all steps in its power, including through its relations with foreign countries, to put pressure on Pakistan to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion".
"We express grave concern of the Indian people that just one day after the tragic killing of 141 innocent children and others in Peshawar, an accused terrorist could be released on bail by the same country," it said.
The House called upon the Pakistani Government to "proceed strongly" with its declared intention to appeal the bail judgement, and "requests the Government to ensure that on no account is such an individual permitted to be released."
In his brief statement before the House, Modi said the decision of granting bail, after terrorists massacred Pakistani children at a school at Peshawar on Tuesday, was particularly shocking.
"The pain felt in India was no less than that felt in Pakistan. Every Indian had tears in eyes... But immediately after that this kind of behaviour has come as shock to all those who believe in humanity," he said.
Before members expressed their views in the House, Kharge asked Speaker Sumitra Mahajan that the Prime Minister should make a statement on the issue which "is very serious" to which Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu agreed and assured that Swaraj, busy meeting the visiting Bangladesh President, would come and make a statement.
Modi came to the House around 13.00 hours and spoke on the development saying Government has sent its feeling "in the strongest word" and assured that the sentiments expressed by the members will be reflected in Government’s actions.
This was followed by a detailed statement by Sushma Swaraj and a quickly-drafted House resolution, which was adopted and read out by the Speaker.
Swaraj said by allowing bail to lakhvi, Pakistan has made mockery of its pledge to fight terrorism "without any condition or discrimination" and asserted that Pakistan should immediately get this decision overturned.
"We do not accept this fact that lakhvi, who is the 26/11 mastermind and has been declared an international terrorist by the UN, is released on bail.... We demand that the Pakistan Government should have this decision overturned immediately. We are keeping a watch on its response."
Swaraj said it is Pakistan’s responsibility to ensure punishment to those behind the Mumbai attacks by furnishing evidence, she said, "We reject this argument that there is lack of adequate evidence."
Asserting "without doubt" that the conspiracy for Mumbai attacks of 2008 was hatched in Pakistan, she said 99 per cent evidence is available in Pakistan and Pakistani investigators had six years to collect all evidence."
The External Affairs Minister emphasised that "it is their (Pakistan’s) responsibility to ensure punishment to them (Mumbai attacks accused) by furnishing evidence."
Referring to the massacre carried out by terrorists in Peshawar on Tuesday, Swaraj said, "We felt the pain of the families whose loved ones were killed in the attack. That day not only were their children killed but a part of humanity also died."