NEW DELHI, Nov 25: India will not be satisfied unless Pakistan gives maximum punishment to the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, Defence Minister A K Antony said today.
“We have explained many times. They (Pakistan) should book the culprits and unless these culprits are given maximum punishment, I don’t think our nation will be satisfied,” he told reporters here on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the 2008 attacks.
The Minister was asked what expectation did India have from Pakistan and what has happened on the ground five years after the attack.
More than 160 people were killed and several hundred were left injured when 10 terrorists attacked India through the sea route. Nine terrorists were killed in encounter with the NSG and the local police forces.
The only militant captured alive during the encounter was Ajmal Kasab, who was given capital punishment earlier this year after a proper legal procedure.
Antony said prior to the attacks, the “coastal security apparatus was very weak but now we have been able to establish a vibrant and strong coastal security mechanisms and coordination is also good.”
Pakistan has also been holding investigations against the people accused to be perpetrators behind the attacks but not much has come out it as nobody has so far been punished there in the case.
There is “no question” of India getting involved in the arbitration process initiated by AgustaWestland in its Rs 3,600 crore chopper deal, which is facing the threat of cancellation, Antony said.
With this, India has made it clear that it will not be drawn into a legal battle with the Anglo-Italian firm in the chopper scam after the firm nominated former Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna for arbitration in the case.
“There is no question. Our stand is clear that there is no issue of arbitration. We have already given them a show cause notice and they have not replied so far. Let them reply. We will take a decision after they reply,” he told reporters here.
Facing threat of cancellation of its deal, AgustaWestland had invoked the arbitration clause in the contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Air Force and nominated Srikrishna on its behalf on November 20.
A team of its officials had also met Defence Ministry officials to present its case in the chopper scam and denied any wrongdoing on its behalf.
The Defence Ministry has taken a stand against arbitration clause saying it does not apply to the pre-contract integrity pact which is signed by the Ministry with its vendors.
Antony has already asserted that the firm had violated contractual obligations, for which the Government had initiated action against it.
The firm has to reply to the final show-cause notice issued to it by the Defence Ministry by tomorrow after which the Government will take a final decision on the deal. (PTI)
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