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| Pakistan has a lot to explain | | THE death of Sarabjit Singh | |
has jolted India and
plunged every Indian in grief. The spontaneous outpouring of outrage reflects the mood of the nation. In a rare gesture Parliament has expressed "shock and sorrow at the sad demise of Sarabjit Singh" and condemned the "inhuman treatment" meted out to him in a Pakistani jail. Sarabjit's murder has provoked extreme reactions, which is understandable. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has called it an "extra-judicial killing" and said the "Centre is unable to give a strong answer to Pakistan's inhuman acts". Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has offered jobs to his two daughters. Sarabjit was arrested in Pakistan in 1991 and sentenced to death for the 1990 bombings in Lahore and Faislabad. His family insisted that he had strayed into Pakistan in an inebriated condition and was innocent.
The Pakistan government has to explain not just to India but to the entire civilized world the denial of proper security to Sarabjit Singh. In the same prison another Indian prisoner, Chamel Singh, had died under mysterious circumstances in January. After the hangings of Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru a backlash was widely feared. Sarabjit 's sister had publicly expressed the apprehension that his life was in danger. Yet the Pakistan authorities did not take the necessary precautionary measures.
There seems to be a deep-rooted conspiracy.
Certain anti-India elements in Pakistan's power structure are trying to whip up anti-India sentiment and vitiate the prevailing environment of peace. They do not want people-to-people warmth to grow and bilateral trade to flourish. The open support to terrorists in Kashmir, the beheading of two Indian soldiers and the murderous attack on Sarabjit Singh are the clear pointers.
The Pakistani authorities have ordered a judicial inquiry into the murder. But this will not suffice unless the real culprits are exposed and brought to justice. Since Pakistan is going to the polls on May 11 the Manmohan Singh government will have to wait for the new dispensation to take charge and then send a strong message to the troublesome neighbour. |
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