Feisty Dalbir Kaur, who has been fighting a lonely battle to secure her brother’s release, targeted the Pakistan government for killing Sarabjit Singhj for electoral gains.
A day earlier, after her return from Lahore, she had demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation for his failure to secure Sarabjit’s release. However, on Thursday after meeting Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, she asked the entire country to strengthen’ Manmohan Singh’s resolve to get Pakistan to act.
After the meeting, a visibly emotional Dalbir said, “They backstabbed Atal Bihari Vajpayee first. Now they backstabbed Manmohan Singh. They have now attacked India’s emotions by killing my brother. My brother has become a martyr for the country. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari killed my brother for victory in elections.”
“The entire country should come together at this juncture. I appeal to all parties to make the hands of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister stronger.”
She made another allegation against renowned Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney. She alleged that the activist demanded at least `2 crore for the release of her brother. “The person demanded `25 crore for the release of my brother. When I said that I am from a poor family that person said if you cannot give `25 crore, you will have to give at least `2 crore. That person told me that if you give the money in the morning Sarabjit will be released in the evening and if you give the money in the evening he will be set free the next morning.” However, Burney later denied the allegations and expressed shock over it.
Under flak for “mishandling” Sarabjit’s case, the UPA Government announced a payment of `25 lakh for Sarabjit’s family from the Prime Minister’s relief fund. The Punjab Government announced that not only will Sarabjit be declared a martyr, his family will be given `1 crore as compensation and jobs for both of his daughters.
As Dalbir Kaur went to meet Congress leaders, the Akali MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accused the Congress of playing politics over the death. She alleged that no leader from any other political party was allowed to meet the aggrieved family of Sarabjit, even as scores of Congress leaders made a beeline to ‘console’ the griefstricken family. Harsimrat Kaur said both of Sarabjit’s daughters will be given jobs.