Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday asked the government to clarify the position on Dawood Ibrahim particularly after the Home Ministry on Tuesday told Parliament that it was unaware of the whereabouts of the 1993 Mumbai blasts accused.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said various governments have held that the accused is in Pakistan and India has given evidence of his involvement in the Mumbai blasts to Islamabad. Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) as well as Indian intelligence agencies have knowledge about his location and whereabouts. The issue has been raised in various international fora. “The BJP had made this an election issue against the previous UPA government and now for the government to say that it is unaware of his whereabouts has hurt not the image of the BJP or the NDA, but of India. This is very unfortunate.’’
Noting that the government had given some clarification outside Parliament saying that the written reply given in Lok Sabha was about Dawood and ‘other criminals’, Mr. Azad said it does not suffice. When Parliament is in session, the Home Minister must give a statement in both the Houses and members should be allowed to seek clarifications. Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) and Naresh Agarwal (SP) also demanded explanation from the government.
Responding to the issue raised, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “We know Dawood is a wanted criminal and we know he is in Pakistan. We will ask the Home Minister to clarify.’’
