Clean chit to Hafiz Saeed a setback for India: BJP

BJP today said a Pakistan court order quashing cases against Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jud chief Hafiz Saeed was a "big setback" to India's efforts to bring him to justice and "proof" that Pakistan does not want to act against those behind the attack.

"The Lahore High Court order today giving a clean chit to Hafiz Saeed is proof that Pakistan does not want to take action against Mumbai terror attack accused," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

He argued India had provided ample proof that the Jud chief was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks but Pakistan still maintained that he was not involved, and presented this view in the court to help him go free.

"This is a big setback to India's efforts. India should ensure that either Pakistan hands over the 26/11 accused or takes action against them," Javadekar said.

The Rajya Sabha MP warned Pakistan was trying to "bury the case and falsify the truth".

Raking up the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement between the two countries, Javadekar said everytime there was violence in Balochistan, Pakistan pointed fingers at India.

"It is becoming obvious now that the joint statement was a big blunder as Pakistan is now daring to challenge India," he said.