Rehman Malik clears air on Babri remark, says no comparison with 26/11, invites PM to Pak

A A

Express news service :New Delhi, Dec 16 2012, 00:27 IST

Amid the controversy over his remarks on Babri Masjid demolition and Kargil martyr Capt Saurabh Kalia, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and invited him to visit Pakistan.

During his 15-minute courtesy call on the PM, Malik extended the invitation from Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and told Singh that the people of Pakistan, especially those in the village he was born, “wanted to see” him. “The people there want to see that a boy from among them has become the PM of a nation and a global leader. I told him that if you don’t come then we will feel disappointed,” said Malik.

Malik also met National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

The meetings were held under the cloud of Malik’s controversial remarks on Friday that had left his hosts red-faced. In one of his statements, Malik seemed to equate the Babri Masjid demolition with the Mumbai terror attacks, in another he said he was not sure whether Kalia, whose mutilated body was returned to India in 1999, had died of Pakistani bullets or due to bad weather.

“I am not trying to interfere in India’s domestic issues in any way,” he said today, while appealing that his remarks should not be seen in a ‘negative’ manner.

“There is no comparison at all. Babri demolition was (the result of) ethnic (problem). It was sectarian strife... Pakistan itself is a victim of inter-faith clashes. My intention

... contd.

Ads by Google

Single Page Format

1 | 2 | 3 | Next

Babri: SC orders UP court to expedite trial Rehman Malik equates 26/11 Mumbai attacks with Babri Masjid demolitionArun Jaitley slams Rehman Malik's comment equating Babri with 26/11 UPA lacks spine to stand up to Rehman Malik's remarks: Modi

Previous Story Rajat Gupta opposes Goldman Sachs’ $6.78 million demand Next Story No leave from work, high airfares hit Indian holidayers

Reader's Comments (3)| Post a Comment

BBV

viswanatha BK | 16-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

It is not Hand of friendship he has extended Ayesha, He has suggested the Unified Continent of India, It is not the Friendship but the Eternal Brother hood he is seeking - by redrawing the Unified Indian Boarder to the west till the Boarder of Eastern Boarder of Afganistan, and He will be the first president of "Brihath Bharath Varsh" We will have one Boarder line less and one fight to face - Jointly against terrorists created by the defunct Pakisthan which is now in the Archive pages of History, The past history of Independent India and earst while Pakisthan,"Joi Ho Bruhath Bharath Varsh". All Muslim Brothers and Sisters can Now Plan their Next"Haj" through Land route. No shaking hands you say, It will be Hugging and back slapping between all brothers and sisters of "Bruhath Bharath Varsh" and Modified "Sare Jahanse Accha" of Poet Iqubal will be the National Antham as " Sare Jahanse Accha Ye Bruhath Bharath Varsh Hamara". Try the Lyrics, it sounds so sweet and increases the Heart thro

Rehman Malik's Babri Remarks

v.vijayamohan | 16-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

Babri was a single incident in India. But, even recently, a temple was reportedly demolished in Pakistan. How can Pakistan talk of Babri, when its record in past, present (and forseeable future) is far worse in respecting places of worship of Hindus. And Babri at least had an excuse that Babri itself was built on the ruins of a TEMPLE! Every religion has to respect other religions, their methods of worship and their places of worship. That is the only way to preserve religious Harmony and peace

It is the usual practice of inciting Muslim vote bank

Hary Nambiar | 16-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

Rahman Malik is not ignorant of Indian history and the demolition of hundreds of Hindu temples and the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Hindus in the Indian subcontinent by Muslims and the erasing of Hindu faith in Pakistan since its formation. What is important to note is the consistence and the timing with which the Congress leaders and the government are using petty issues to incite Muslim vote bank when elections are approaching.