The Hindu : National : Sarabjit’s sister appeals to Rahul

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Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
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Sarabjit’s sister appeals to Rahul

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Says he has been wrongly implicated

— Photo: R. V. Moorthy

All-out efforts: Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbir Kaur talks to journalists after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh who is on death row in Pakistan, on Monday called on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath here and urged him to take up Sarabjit’s case with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party president Sonia Gandhi.

Ms. Kaur was hopeful that Mr. Gandhi would speak for her brother.

Sarabjit was sentenced to death on the charge of spying and carrying out bomb explosions.

Ms. Kaur said: “Sarabjit is not a spy; he is a simple man with two daughters, who are waiting for his return. He was arrested after he accidentally strayed into Pakistan. He is no Kashmir Singh, who has admitted to being a spy and has been pardoned recently.

“Sarabjit is innocent and has been wrongly implicated. We appeal to the Pakistan government to take a more tolerant and humane approach to the case and not hang him. The fact that the Pakistani government has now set a date for hanging my brother has us worried and desperate for support.”

Stating that she had appealed to several senior Indian leaders on behalf of Sarabjit, Ms. Kaur said: “Every time I meet a senior politician, I am assured that the Government of India will try and do something for my brother. Now it is do-or-die time for me and I pray with folded hands to all senior leaders in India and Pakistan to pardon Sarabjit. His family has suffered for long without him.”

“I cannot give up hope now. I have to keep a brave face for Sarabjit’s daughters. Mr. Gandhi told me that he will intervene for Sarabjit and I am sure that our appeals will not fall on deaf ears. We are also planning to meet and appeal to the Prime Minister. We will meet him as soon as he gives us time.”

Ms. Kaur criticised Kashmir Singh for his statement that he was a spy. “Kashmir Singh is now back with his family and can say anything he wants. He should understand that there are many locked up in Pakistan jails and have families waiting for them back in India,” she said.

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