Call off Indo-Pak cricket series: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today demanded cancellation of the upcoming Indo-Pak cricket series in the wake of visiting Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik "insulting" India.

The party also accused Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde of remaining silent by not responding appropriately to Malik, who triggered controversy by equating 26/11 Mumbai attack with Babri Masjid demolition and describing LeT terrorist Abu Jundal as an operative of Indian intelligence agency.

New Delhi has rubbished Malik's assertions. Senior BJP leader Yashwant Singh said, "The Indo-Pak cricket series (commencing on December 25) should be cancelled.

"What kind of goodwill we are creating by playing cricket matches after Malik's visit," he told reporters outside Parliament House.

"...our Home Minister has shown weakeness by not reponding to Rehman Malik in kind. He should have immediately responded, if he (Malik) used hard words, he (Shinde) should have used hard words," Sinha said.

"If you (Malik) insulted India, you (Shinde) should have said we don't accept it. He (Shinde) should have contradicted the Pakistani Interior Minister's statement then and there."

Sinha said Pakistan does not stand by the commitment it makes and neither the present Indian government reminds that country of the assurances given by it.

"...and this is our problem that we think that if we keep quite in the face of their assult, then relations will improve. Relations will not improve in this manner. Relations will improve only if we confront Pakistan with the truth of the situation," he said.