Shiv Sena targets Centre again, says all warnings on Pakistan JIT proved right

Mumbai: Attacking the Centre over Pakistani media reports suggesting that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had found the Pathankot terror attack "stage-managed by India", Shiv Sena on Wednesday said this was the consequence of the government rolling out a red carpet to the neighbouring country.

"All warnings given by the Sena to the government about Pakistan have unfortunately proved correct. All the evidences given by the Indian government have been rejected by the Pakistani JIT. Not only did they reject it, but also in a mindless conclusion, termed it as India's drama," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

It said the "father of all terror organisations Hafiz Saeed" had congratulated the terrorists who carried out the Pathankot attack and in a way admitted that the attack was his handiwork.

"The bogus report was leaked even before it was submitted to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif," it said. Also, in a shameless manner, "the JIT concluded that India itself staged the attack to defame Pakistan", it said.

The Sena further said the government ignored every warning and allowed the Pakistani team investigate the attack on the Pathankot airbase. "This (report) is the effect of rolling out a red carpet for Pakistan and ignoring the advice of friends while trusting the enemy nation.

Even when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Lahore and met Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, we had warned that there would be betrayal. In the end they betrayed us with a terror attack on Pathankot air base," it said.

The party stated that the biggest joke of the episode was the presence of a senior ISI officer in the JIT. "ISI has planned and executed terror attacks in India. Our government has repeatedly stated that Pakistani terrorists, in a planned manner, sneak into India and carry out terror attacks.

"Even then Lt Col Tanveer Ahmed of the ISI stands at Pathankot air base and conducts a probe...this itself is a sham. Why this was done the government will have to answer. To carry out terror attacks in India has been integral part of Pakistan's foreign policy," it said.

The Sena questioned the need to extend an olive branch to Pakistan even when it was "crystal clear" that the terror attack on Pathankot air base was as per plans of Pakistani Army and ISI. "Satisfied now? This is our question to the government on behalf of nationalists," the Sena asked.