PC sceptical on Pak action against 26/11 accused

Home Minister P Chidambaram remained doubtful on Pakistan's action against Mumbai blast accused, saying he would welcome the step only when the trial begins as there have been flip-flops in the past.

Making it clear that it would take more than words to convince India of Pakistan’s sincerity on acting against terrorists, Home Minister P Chidambaram said he would welcome Islamabad’s assurance to start the trial against Mumbai terror suspects by this weekend only after it delivers on the promise.

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These dates have been set many times before, Chidambaram — who promised to deliver “swift and decisive” response if another terror incident took place — told CNN-IBN. “For example, the last date that was set the judge was on leave, they said. So when it starts, it will be a positive step,” he said.

The home minister was responding to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s announcement, after talks with Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna that the trial against the 26/11 suspects would start on October 3.

The home minister stressed that the trial must begin and Lashkar-e-Tayyeba founder Hafiz Saeed must be arrested, interrogated and investigated. “All the evidence against Hafiz Saeed is on Pakistani soil. That has to be gathered,” he said.

PC On Kobad Ghandy
As civil liberty activists begin a campaign to seek release of the Naxal leader Kobad Ghandy, Home Minister P Chidambaram said Ghandy wondered why the rights activists hadn’t raised their voice when innocents were being killed by the Naxals.

“Well, I can only be sorry for them,” he said, wondering where the activists were when four people were killed including two students in the Naxal areas.

Ghandy, one of the nine politburo members of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested in New Delhi on September 21.