Mounting a fresh offensive over the visit today, Congress said the Modi government has set a "wrong precedent" and wondered why 'biryani' was being served to the JIT which also includes an ISI representative.
As a political storm over the visit of a five-member Pakistani Joint Investigation Team(JIT) raged, the BJP fended off opposition criticism, saying the trip strengthens government's stand that Pakistani territory was used to carry out the strike. It also accused Congress of criticising the visit due to "political malice".
Raut also reminded the Centre that not India, but Pakistan is an accused in the Pathankot strike.
"On top of that, we have provided high security to the Pakistani team. Who are they scared of? The entire matter is laughable," the Sena MP told PTI in Mumbai.
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He sought to know if the Centre will manage to get permission from Pakistan to get an Indian team to investigate in the neighbouring country.
Congress accused the government of compromising the country's sovereignty and setting a "wrong" precedent.
"It is known all over that the Pakistan's ISI is behind the terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, and still we are serving biryani to the JIT which also includes an ISI representative," party spokesman P L Punia told reporters in Delhi.
BJP said the government has "adequate evidence" that Pakistani territory was used and terrorists based there were involved in the attack.
"They (Pakistan) said they want to send an investigation team. It only strengthens our case and does not weaken it," party National Secretary Shrikant Sharma told reporters.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said only time will tell whether the visit will benefit India or not. He, however, said "the way Pakistani team came for probing the Pathankot attack and was allowed, Indian team should be allowed to (investigate) Mumbai and other such attacks (in Pakistan)".
Waving black flags and placards, scores of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers stood outside the IAF base protesting against the visit and shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.