Saeed rearticulating agenda of terrorists thriving in Pak: MHA

25/11/2017

NEW DELHI, Nov 24: Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's comments on Kashmir are nothing but rearticulation of the agenda of terrorists who have "thrived" across the border, the Home Ministry today said after the founder of the banned JuD terror outfit walked free from house arrest in Lahore.
Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir "is and will remain an integral part" of India, it said that such repeated utterances by terrorists have been given an appropriate response on the ground every time by the law enforcement agencies and the people of the state.
After his release today, Saeed said he would gather people across Pakistan for the "cause of Kashmir" and try to help Kashmiris get their "destination of freedom".
Asked about it, a senior Home Ministry official said, "The principled and consistent stand of the government of India on the issue is that Jammu and Kashmir is and will remain an integral part of India.
"The recent statement of Hafiz Saeed is a rearticulation of the terrorists constituency which has thrived across the border." Such statements are made repeatedly in the past and each time they have received an appropriate and resounding response on the ground from the people and law enforcement agencies, the official said.
The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head, who carries a USD 10 million American bounty for his role in terror activities, was freed after the government decided against detaining him further in any case.
He was under detention since January.
"I was detained for 10 months only to stop my voice for Kashmir," Saeed told his supporters after his release.
However, Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed today said ousted Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif had committed "treason" by seeking friendship with India and ignoring the "Kashmir cause", hours after his release from house arrest.
Saeed gave an hour-long Friday sermon at the JuD headquarters here, for which a large number of JuD activists had gathered at the Jamia Masjid Al-Qadsia at Chauburji here.
After Friday prayers, the charged workers greeted Saeed on his release and renewed their pledge for "Kashmir Jihad".
Saeed in his speech also targeted the Pakistani government for "taking dictation from foreign masters" and spoke of "Indian atrocities" in Kashmir.
He told his supporters the "reasons" behind his 10-month detention, and also as to why Sharif was ousted as prime minister.
"Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been punished for forsaking Kashmiris. Sharif is ousted from the prime minister house because he committed treason with Kashmiris. He wanted friendship with India and completely ignored the Kashmir cause," he said and warned the PML-N government not to bow before the international community for loans.
"The rulers must not take dictation from the US and other countries and take its own decisions," he said.
Saeed walked from house arrest as a free man in the early hours of today after the Pakistan government decided against detaining him further in any case.
He had been under detention since January this year.
The JuD head, who carries a bounty of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities, reiterated that he was detained for raising his voice for the Kashmiri people.
He said Pakistan should not hold peace dialogue with India till it withdraws its army from Kashmir.
He said he would continue fighting for Kashmiris till they get freedom.
Saeed reiterated that the US, on India's request, pressured Pakistan to detain him.

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