Defending the grant of visa to former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad, the Government on Thursday said the Home Ministry has followed “proper” procedures.
“It is a decision taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Government. What are the circumstances, what is considered when an approval is given... what goes into it, is an internal government matter,” External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters in Bangalore.
He was responding to a question about the opposition to the grant of visa to Miandad, an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board, for the India-Pakistan one-day.
Due to Miandad’s family ties with Dawood Ibrahim, India’s most wanted terrorist, there had been reports before a series in 2005 that any requests for a visa by the batting great could be turned down by the Indian government.
Mr. Khurshid, who was on private visit to the state, retorted:
“It is the job of MHA. They have taken a decision. No Pakistani visa gets cleared without MHA clearance. Inputs from all agencies are taken into consideration. It is an internal procedure”.
Apparently referring to Shiv Sena’s objections over grant of visa, he said, “Opposition only questions. Proper procedures have been gone through in this. Any law of prudence which had to be followed, it was followed, I am sure law will take care”.
When asked about the action contemplated against Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLA, Akbaruddin Owaisi for his alleged hate speech, Khurshid said legal procedures will be followed.
“I am not the Home Minister. I am sure the Home Minister gets full inputs from the intelligence bureau”, he said.
Govt draws flak
Meanwhile, BJP and Shiv Sena lashed out at the government for granting visa to Javed Miandad, asking how allowing a person related to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim to visit India will help improve bilateral ties.
“This country loves the game of cricket but does not love terrorists. Dawood Ibrahim has been the mastermind of several terror acts. Pakistan has refused to hand him over to India despite several efforts. India should not allow any relative of Dawood to come to India,” BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.
The BJP maintained that Pakistan should hand over Dawood before Miandad is allowed to visit India. Dawood had allegedly masterminded the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He fled to Pakistan after the attacks and is said to be based there.
“Pakistan today is a factory of terror and manufactures terrorists who work against India,” Mr. Naqvi said.
BJP MP Kirti Azad asked why the government had allowed Miandad to visit the country after seven years when “Indian government had refused to give him visa since 2005. Will Dawood Ibrahim’s relative come and the Indian government question him? Giving him visa and playing cricket will not improve relations,” the former Indian cricketer said.
Shiv Sena, which had opposed renewing of cricketing ties with Pakistan, said the whole country should condemn the move.
“He’s a relative of Dawood Ibrahim and you lay out a red carpet for him. The whole country should oppose it. Pakistan has spread terrorism whether it is in Delhi, Mumbai or Kashmir,” Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.
Interestingly, ruling Congress MP Jagadambika Pal has also opposed granting of visa to Miandad.
“Dawood Ibrahim is considered as the mastermind of terrorist activists... He is most wanted not just in India but the whole world and giving visa to his relative, I believe, is not right. It is bound to hurt sentiments of people,” Mr. Pal said.
Miandad has been granted an Indian visa that will allow him to watch the final one-dayer of the ongoing limited-over cricket series between the two countries in New Delhi.
Miandad on Wednesday said he would come to New Delhi on January 5 to watch the cricket match the following day. He also said he had a visa for Ajmer Sharif.
No comments:
Post a Comment