Congress today expressed disappointment over government action of merely declaring a Pakistan High Commission staffer 'persona non-grata' for spying and asking him to leave the country within 48 hours.
Party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters that Mehmood Akhtar should have been detained and interrogated as it is a "extremely sensitive matter" and he was caught with sensitive defence documents, including those about deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border.
"All that they have detained is a pigeon", he said apparently referring to Punjab police recently detaining a pigeon in the border district of Pathankot for carrying a note threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He recalled that a jawan Chandu Chavan and another Indian Kulbhushan Yadav were in Pakistan custody and Yadav is not even being given counsellor access by Pakistan.
Mehmood Akhtar issue should have been dealt with a "firm hand" and the Pakistani should have been "detained and interrogated" and the government decision is "disappointing", he added.
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To a question of granting renewal permission to NGO of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, Surjewala said any one found indulging in activities against security establishment or interest of India should be acted against in accordance with Law.
"Zakir Naik's NGO, as far as I remember, was granted renewal by Home Ministry. They are still taking action there upon. No final decision has come as yet. Any action taken in national interest is welcome", he said.
On the question that Modi Government's order has resulted in lowering the equivalent ranks of the Army Officers vis-a-vis civil officers, Surjewala alleged Modi Government has systematically and by design discriminated against India's Armed Forces.
"Truth is 'One Rank One Pension' has become 'One Rank Many Pensions'. The soldiers of this country are feeling cheated", he added.
