Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju has asked Pakistan to handover 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi to New Delhi, as has also been advised by the United States of America and the United Kingdom to do so.
A section of media had reported earlier that the US and the UK have asked Pakistan to either hand over Lakhvi to India to improve bilateral ties or to conduct a credible and independent trial.
Rijiju said Pakistan needs to exhibit its intention to fight militancy after Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, had vowed to crush all militants after the killing of 132 school children and nine members of school staff in Peshawar city.
"It is good and Pakistan should follow it. If they (Pakistan) want to fight terrorism, it should also show. If they (US and UK) are advising Pakistan, it should think that it (Pakistan) is doing wrong things," Rijiju said.
Lakhvi was arrested in Pakistan in 2009 in connection with the attack on Mumbai by Pakistani militants in which 166 people were killed. The sole surviving gunman had identified Lakhvi as the mastermind.
The Congress Party called Lakhvi "monstrous to humanity".
More From This Section
"Lakhvi will bite the hands that feed him. Pakistan will realise it sooner or later. The UK and the US, with some delay, have only echoed what India has been saying from day one in 2008. These are persons, who will always be monstrous to the humanity," said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress spokesperson.
India blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attack. Ten gunmen spent three days spraying bullets and throwing grenades around city landmarks.