File Photo of Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha
The government on Friday sought to take the sting out of the opposition attack on the whereabouts of fugitive 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh telling Lok Sabha that the NDA government's reply was the same as the UPA regime gave two years ago.
Mr Singh said he would make a detailed statement on the issue in the House on Monday. The Home Minister had said on Thursday that there was "no confusion" about Dawood's whereabouts.
"The reply given on the issue on May 5, 2015 is the same that was given on May 7, 2013. That time, we had not criticised it.... They have not been able to understand the meaning. I will make a detailed statement on the issue in the House on Monday", Mr Singh said responding to Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia in the Zero Hour.
Mr Scindia, who had given notice for an adjournment motion on the issue, accused the Modi government of doing a sudden "U-turn" in the matter in spite of the fact that Dawood continued to be the most wanted fugitive after the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
Mr Scindia recalled that during the election campaign, Narendra Modi had mentioned that India will pursue Dawood Ibrahim inside Pakistan like the US targetted Osama Bin Laden there.
Mr Scindia also said the latest statement on Dawood showed that "the government has no control over its ministers as ministers like Sadhavi Niranjan Jyoti, VK Singh and Giriraj Singh continue to make controversial remarks."
The government was left embarrassed on Tuesday when Union Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in a written reply that the location of Dawood Ibrahim, one of India's most wanted terrorists, was not known to the government and, once he is located, his extradition process will be initiated.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had clarified two days ago that the underworld don lives in Pakistan and the Centre would continue to pursue the case very seriously.