Parliament on Thursday expressed shock and sorrow over the death of death-row prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a hospital in Pakistan.
Outside Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was “deeply saddened” by the demise of a “brave son of India” and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs. 25 lakh to Sarabjit’s family. “The nation shares their profound grief with them,” he said in a statement.
The Prime Minister regretted that “the government of Pakistan did not heed the pleas of the Indian government, Sarabjit’s family and civil society in India and Pakistan to take a humanitarian view of this case.”
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He said, “He was a valiant son of India who bore his tribulations with fortitude. The criminals responsible for the barbaric and murderous attack on him must be brought to justice.”
Both Houses adopted resolutions — moved by the Chair — condemning the “inhuman treatment” meted out to Sarabjit in jail, where he was brutally assaulted by fellow inmates last week, and expressed the hope that the culprits would be brought to book. The resolution was moved by Speaker Meira Kumar in the Lok Sabha and by Chairman Hamid Ansari in the Rajya Sabha.
“This House expresses its deep sense of shock and sorrow at the sad demise of Shri Sarabjit Singh, an Indian citizen in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore in Pakistan, today after he was brutally assaulted by his fellow inmates in a Pakistan jail,” said the resolution moved by Ms. Kumar.
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The resolution was moved after the House witnessed two adjournments amid uproar by Opposition members who condemned the murderous assault and raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
Mr. Ansari said, “The House deeply mourns the demise of Sarabjit Singh and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved family.”
Both Houses mourned Sarabjit, with members standing in silence for a while.