PM has 'erred' in calling Gilani man of peace: Yashwant Sinha

Reacting to the remark of Singh after a meeting with Gilani on the sidelines of the Saarc Summit in the Maldives, BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said that Pakistan has done nothing either in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case or on issue of terrorism.

"The Prime Minister of India has erred in describing Mr Gilani as a man of peace. The central issue between India and Pakistan has been cross-border terrorism and there is nothing Pakistan has done to warrant the impression that they are serious about tackling the issue," Sinha said.

He said that while Singh praised Gilani, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik maintained that there is no evidence against Jamaat-ud-Dawa led by Hafiz Saeed. "We know of the involvement of Saeed and the ISI in terror activities through documented evidence worldwide," Sinha said.

He said that while the Indian army chief, the Home Minister and the Defence Minister have talked about Pakistan's involvement in terror acts, Prime Minister Singh seemed to be "oblivious" of what his own people were saying.

"This will not be acceptable to the people of India," Sinha said. Asked about Malik's statement that 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab should be hanged, Sinha said, "At the same time, he is also saying that those involved in Samjhauta Express blast should also be hanged. Be that as it may, Pakistan always tried to draw parity with India on the issue of terrorism."