Parliament goes ballistic over attack on Indian diplomat
Pakistan has expressed regret at the brutal
assault on an Indian diplomat based in Islamabad on Sunday and
assured New Delhi that it would conduct an investigation into the
incident, Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhara Raje Scindia told
Parliament today.
Raje said this assurance was given by Pakistan High Commissioner in India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi to Foreign Secretary K
Raghunath when he was summoned to South Block yesterday.
The minister, who made the statement when the matter was raised
by leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar, gave details of the
assault on B S Rawat, an attache-rank official,
purportedly by a security guard.
Scindia said Rawat was badly beaten and received serious
injuries.
She said a strong protest had been lodged with the Pakistan
government, and it had been advised to ensure full security of the
staff of the Indian mission in Islamabad in line with international
obligations and bilateral agreements.
In the Rajya Sabha, members from all sections of the House
denounced the attack and asked the
government to warn Pakistan against the recurrence of such incidents
involving members of the Indian mission in Islamabad.
The members, however, urged the government to show restraint and
maturity and not get provoked over the incident.
Raising the issue through a special mention, Professor Vijay Kumar
Malhotra (BJP) said the government should tell Pakistan that it
stop immediately the attacks on Indian diplomats and their families.
He said Indian nationals at the high commission in Islamabad worked
in difficult circumstances.
Parag Chaliha (AGP) said Pakistan should desist from such
activities.
Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) said such attacks violated
international conventions and were against civilised behaviour.
S S Ahluwalia (Congress) described the attack as a ''shameful
act'' and wanted the government to tell Pakistan that such actions
would not be tolerated.
Kuldip Nayar (nominated) said the attack on the Indian
diplomat was reprehensible and urged the government to show
restraint and behave in a civilised manner.
The member wanted the House to pass a resolution condemning such
incidents.
Nilotpal Basu (CPI-M) said India should avoid all provocation
and refrain from any confrontationist approach. However, the
matter was serious and should be taken up strongly with the Pakistan
government.
Naresh Mohan (BJP) also wanted the Rajya Sabha to pass a
resolution and wanted the government to warn Pakistan against such
acts.
Onkar Singh Lekhawat (BJP) said if Pakistan did not refrain
from intimidating and assaulting Indian diplomats, the government
should take appropriate action at appropriate time.
Jayanthi Natarajan (Tamil Maanila Congress) urged the government to act with
maturity and take steps to protect the lives of Indian staff and
their family members in Islamabad.
Khan Gufran Zahidi (Congress) said a way must be found to prevent
recurrence of physical attacks on Indian diplomats.
Rajya Sabha chairman Krishan Kant shared the concern of
members over the incident, but said passing a resolution would amount
to taking a strong step.
UNI
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