Pak govt making efforts to mainstream Hafiz Saeed and his system: India's MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar has said that Pakistan is trying to make efforts to mainstream Hafiz Saeed and his system as a political party.

He added that the world is watching that Pakistan is not taking any action against Saeed.

He said "Pakistan is mandated under UN Law to take action against Hafiz Saeed but instant developments coming out of Pak seems to be an attempt by Pak establishment to mainstream him and his system as a political party. It is a way of shielding what he used to do earlier. The true face of Hafiz Saeed and Pakistan is for all to see. Not only India but also the entire international community feels that the action which should be taken against Hafiz Saeed is not being taken".

Speaking on the rising tensions in the Korean peninsula, Kumar said India is ready to indulge in any kind of dialogue and diplomacy to maintain peace in the region. 

"We believe that any solution to the issues in Koran peninsula must take into account and address concerns about the proliferation linkages of DPRK's nuclear envisage programme. India supports all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that such engagement will help in reducing tensions and pave the way for lasting peace & reconciliation in the Korean peninsula".

Speaking of the reports that claimed Indians were not allowed to attend the event of Dalai Lama, the spokesperson clarified that the Buddhist leader is free to carry his religious functions in India. 

He said "Dalai Lama is a revered religious leader and worshipped in India. There is no change in that position. He is free to carry his religious functions here".

He also spoke about the controversy surrounding the visit of Canadian Prime minister in India.

He said "Jaspal Atwal travelled to India on a valid visa. This was the third visit. Government of India has a conscious policy of outreach to Indian diaspora including misguided elements who in past may have harboured anti-India sentiments which they have since renounced. "There are well-established procedures for grant of visa to foreign travellers which have been followed in this case as well".

Jaspal Atwal was part of a movement that supported an independent Sikh nation in the 1980 and was imprisoned for the attempted murder of a visiting Indian minister in 1986.

He was invited to a dinner with Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau in New Delhi.