Sarabjit Singh's sister Dalbir Kaur, who returned to India today after meeting the Indian death row prisoner at a hospital in Pakistan, has once again slammed the Indian government for allegedly failing to bring her brother back from Lahore. She also accused the PM of failing to prevent the attack on him.
"The government failed to protect him despite knowing about the threat to his life. I am very disappointed. The PM should quit. He is unable to protect an Indian citizen," Ms Kaur told reporters after crossing the Wagah border along with Sarabjit's wife and daughters.
Sarabjit, 49, was admitted to Lahore's Jinnah Hospital on Friday after he was brutally attacked by other prisoners at the Kot Lakhpat Jail. He continues to be in coma and on ventilator.
Refuting reports that he was brain dead, Ms Kaur said, "He is still alive. His body parts show some movement. I have doubts about the treatment being given to Sarabjit in Pakistan. Please save him. Bring him back to India for treatment. Take him abroad (for treatment). Please send Indian doctors to examine his condition. Just do something."
She said her family would meet PM Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and urge them to help save Sarabjit's life.
Holding the government responsible for Sarabjit's plight, Ms Kaur also said, "You (government of India) failed to protect your citizen...They (Pakistan) got (Pakistani scientists Dr Khalil) Chishti freed." She was referring to the 80-year-old Pakistani scientist who was allowed to return to Karachi by the Supreme Court of India in May last year after a 20-year-long legal battle.
Dalbir Kaur also reiterated that she suspects that the attack on her brother was planned and perhaps linked to the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab. "We hanged (Ajmal) Kasab and Afzal Guru, they (prisoners) assaulted Sarabjit," she said.
India has appealed to Pakistan to release Sarabjit and let him return home.
Sarabjit had been on death row in Pakistan since 1990, when he was convicted for alleged involvement in a string of bomb attacks that killed 14 people in Pakistan's Punjab province. But his family claims he is innocent.