Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: December 1, 2011
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Yousuf-Raza-Gilani-may-be-a-man-of-peace-but-he-has-not-moved-on-26/11-Chidambaram/articleshow/10936905.cms
Home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani may be a "man of peace"
but he had not delivered on the 26/11 probe, whether was arresting the real
culprits or giving India voice samples of those who are in jails there.
The home minister's scepticism is significant
after PM Manmohan Singh described Gilani as a "man of peace" to
explain why he had reached out to Pakistan yet again. Chidambaram refused
to comment on the gap between the PM's optimism implied in his description
of Gilani and his own reservations about the Pakistani premier.
Asked about it, Chidambaram said, "Please
don't ask me to comment on the statement made by the honourable Prime Minister
(Manmohan Singh). The Pakistani prime minister may be a man of peace and,
if he has been described as such, that is a description given by the prime
minister."
He continued, "That has nothing to do
with the fact that they (Pakistan) have not given us voice samples, they have
not arrested the true perpetrators behind 26/11. I don't think you should
spin out a political story out of a statement that I have made."
Singh had made the remark about Gilani in
Maldives recently, surprising many because of the deep disappointment in the
government over Pakistan's continued refusal to bring the masterminds of 26/11
to book.