Hafiz Saeed not to figure in PM's talks with Zardari
April 06, 2012 14:33 IST
Laskar-e-Tayyiba founder Hafiz Saeed may not come up for discussion on April 8 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zaradari over lunch in New Delhi.
Zardari is coming on a private visit to India to offer prayers at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer.
"President Zardari is on a private visit to the holy dargah in Ajmer with the members of his family. Since the visit is religious in nature it would not be proper to raise such an issue (Hafiz Saeed) when the two leaders meet in Delhi," Home Minister P Chidambaram said during his interaction with mediapersons.
He, however, made it clear that India would continue to raise the issue relating to Saeed with Pakistan. The outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief is alleged to have masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes and the Parliament attack in 2001. The United States has announced a bounty of $ 10 million for information leading to the arrest on conviction of Saeed for his role in 26/11 attacks that left 166 people dead.
According to the Rajasthan government, security measures for the VIP visit are being put in place. The dargah would be closed to other pilgrims in the afternoon of April 8 when Zardari and his family members are expected at shrine of the Sufi saint.
Senior police officials of the Rajasthan police would personally supervise the security arrangements. A temporary helipad is being erected near the shrine.
Onkae Singh in New Delhi
