Indian media not allowed to enter SAARC meet in Pak: Rajnath in RS

However, Singh said he won’t comment on whether Pakistan was right or wrong in not allowing coverage.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who returned from Islamabad on Thursday evening after attending the seventh SAARC Home Ministers conference, briefed the Parliament on Friday about his visit.

Here are the highlights:

Won't comment whether Pakistan was right or wrong in not allowing coverage, says Singh.

On his speech at SAARC summit, Singh said I appreciate the unity of the House against terrorism, it reflects the country's determination to fight terrorism. I have no hesitation in saying every Indian PM regardless of whichever party has shown determination in fight against terror. It is true that Doordarshan, ANI and PTI reporters who had come from India were not allowed to enter.

Opposition in Rajya Sabha asked Home Minister whether his SAARC speech was blacked out.

All countries must help to eradicate terrorists and Pakistan is biggest violator of human rights.

Terror, trafficking, cyber crime discussed at SAARC and India took strong stand against terror at the summit.

I said that there is a need to take strongest action not just against the terrorists but also those who support terrorism.

During SAARC interior Home Ministers meet, I urged all members that terrorists should not be glorified nor should be patronised, says Rajnath Singh.

Evading media pressure, Singh said he had placed India’s point of view across Pakistan, adding all information can be gathered from his speech which is now in the public domain.

However, the Home Minister had briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his visit to Pakistan.

During his terse speech, Singh launched a veiled attack on Pakistan, saying mere condemnation of terrorism and individual acts by terrorists was not enough.

He categorically stated that there is no good or bad terrorist. Singh said that strongest action should be initiated not only against terrorists but also against organizations, individuals and nations supporting terror.

However, Singh’s speech during the meet was blacked out. Members of the Indian media, who had come from New Delhi to report on the conference, were not allowed to cover the speech. They were reportedly kept at a distance by Pakistani officials.

Some reports said that there was an aggressive verbal exchange between officials of the two sides over the issue. Only Pakistan state PTV was allowed to cover introductory speeches of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan. Even private Pakistani media not allowed to cover the event.

Media reports also said that his scheduled news conference at Delhi airport has been cancelled.

Singh arrived in Islamabad yesterday amid protests by supporters of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Harkat ul Mujahideen. The protests were held at a distance of about 10 kilometers from the National Assembly. Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin was also present during the protests.

(This article first appeared in Deccan Chronicle)