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Headley saying nothing new on 26/11: Prime Minister
Maintaining that there is nothing new in the confessions of David Headley — linking the Mumbai terror attack with the ISI — that India didn’t already know, PM Manmohan Singh on Saturday urged Pakistan to curb the monster of terrorism it has created which is not working to anybody’s advantage. Jayanth Jacob reports.
Maintaining that there is nothing new in the confessions of 26/11 accused David Headley — linking the Mumbai terror attack with the ISI — that India didn’t already know, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday urged Pakistan to curb the monster of terrorism it has created which is not working to anybody’s advantage.
“We must use every possible opportunity to talk to Pakistan and convince them that terrorism as a state policy is not acceptable to the civilised world. We would like Pakistan to take much effective action to curb to the activities of the jihadi groups that target India,” the PM, who was on his way back from a tour of Africa, told reporters.
“The more I see of what is happening in Pakistan the more I am convinced that Pakistan leadership must now wake up and recognize that the terror machine they have or at least some elements in the country patronize, is not working to anybody's advantage,” he said.
Regarding Headley’s trial and link between ISI and Mumbai attack, he said “it has not revealed anything that we didn’t know”.
Singh said he would continue to use the bilateral dialogue process to “convince” Islamabad to curb the activities of the terror machine that is “still intact” in Pakistan.
Regarding the issues related to land acquisition, Singh said the government has to think “afresh” on the issue.
“I do recognise that land acquisition has become a very sensitive issue and the acquisition of prime land is something which arouses valid concerns,” Singh said.
The Prime Minister said the government is committed to bring the Land Acquisition Bill for approval in the next monsoon session of parliament.
When asked about the cabinet expansion, he said “when I go back home, I will apply my mind on it.”
On a question whether the Congress would prefer AIADMK as a partner over DMK, the PM said, “As of now DMK is our partner and there is no change in that.”
