Political slugfest
Mud-slinging begins over Sarabjit death
Hours after Sarabjit died in mysterious circumstances, a full-blown political slugfest erupted in New Delhi, with the Opposition, including the BJP and the Akali Dal, leaving no stone unturned to embarrass the Congress-led government.
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi was quick to criticise the government for “failing Sarabjit”. He said: “The Indian government had all the time to mobilise the world ... it left the matter to Sarabjit’s family themselves to handle.”
At a Mangalore election rally, Mr Modi said Sarabjit's death was a clear case of “extra-judicial killing”.
Realising the issue could snowball into a huge political controversy, the government swung into damage control mode, with home minister Sushilkumar Shinde meeting Sarabjit’s family members. The MHA arranged for a helicopter to fly the family from Delhi to their native village Bhikiwind.
This was followed by an emotionally-charged meeting of family members with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who promised all possible help to them. Rahul Gandhi hugged Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur while offering his condolences.
Highlighting the county’s outrage over the incident, PM Manmohan Singh described the attack on Sarabjit as “barbaric'” demanding that those responsible for his death should be punished. He also announced an exgratia of `25 lakh for Sarabjit’s family.
BJP chief Rajnath Singh launched a scathing attack on the government demanding that diplomatic ties with Pakistan be scaled down. Mr Singh also said that the government should immediately recall the Indian High Commissioner there.
Describing Sarabjit as a “national martyr”, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the Indian prisoner will be given a state funeral.
49-year-old Sarabjit's death was an “entirely avoidable tragedy”, Mr Badal said “We have this very sad feeling that the Indian government failed to articulate the national sentiment on Sarabjit.”