Attack on Sarabjit: India's diplomatic "failure", says BJP

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the attack on Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a Lahore jail, BJP today charged India has failed to deal firmly with Pakistan.

Expressing concern over the attack on Sarabjit, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the firmness with which India should deal with Pakistan has not been there since the UPA government was formed.

"Even when an Indian soldier was beheaded by Pakistani forces, India hosted a lunch for their Interior Minister. When India offered to hand over (26/11 convict) Ajmal Kasab's body, Pakistan refused. But later they passed a resolution asking for (Parliament attack convict) Afzal Guru's body," Swaraj said.

"Somewhere, there has been a diplomatic failure", she added.

The BJP leader insisted a "strong" response towards Pakistan is needed but "is missing". Sarabjit's case is not an isolated incident, she said.

Swaraj maintained that BJP is also concerned about India's stand on Chinese troops' incursion into Indian territory in Ladakh.

"We discussed this issue in the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting today," she said.

BJP has alleged the incursion poses a serious danger to India and "our government is not showing the seriousness the matter deserves and is taking it lightly".