As investigators from India and Pakistan met here over the probe into the Pathankot attack, a political storm erupted with Opposition parties hitting out at the Modi government over the visiting team
As investigators from India and Pakistan met here over the probe into the Pathankot attack, a political storm erupted with Opposition parties hitting out at the Modi government over the visiting team including an ISI official being allowed to go to the IAF base there on Tuesday.
The Congress said “unfettered access” given to the five-member joint investigation team (JIT) by according an almost “red carpet welcome” raised serious questions on procedural propriety in relation to compromise on national security and likened it to an accused investigating himself.
Endorsing the stand taken by Congress, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “surrendering” to Pakistan by allowing its investigators to probe the Pathankot attack and said instead Indian probe agencies should have gone to that country where “actual masterminds are sitting”.
Amid the political slugfest, defence minister Manohar Parrikar sought to downplay the row, saying the JIT has been refused permission to enter the strategically important IAF base at Pathankot while a National Investigating Agency source said the JIT will get only limited access to the “crime scene” as part of investigations. The BJP said there was nothing wrong if Pakistan wanted to probe the case as it claimed that this was the first time the neighbouring country had offered “assurance” of action.
The BJP said the visit came after Mr Modi demanded firm action from his Pakistan counterpart following the attack and credited the government for the “most successful anti-fidayeen” operation in Pathankot.
“The Congress should not level baseless allegations,” BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
