One man’s folly, another man’s “victory”
By now most (if not all) of you must have read the news about Dr Haneef Mohammed being cleared of all charges in what looks like a ham-handed investigation by the Australian authorities including a series of bungles by prosecutors and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
What intrigued me though was this bit of news: “Indian officials call Haneef’s release a ‘diplomatic success’“
While I admire the Indian government and the fine officials at the High Commission in Canberra that helped in this matter, is it not a bit of a stretch to to claim credit for this “success”?
The release of Haneef was becuase he was mistakenly arrested and not because of any pressure by Indian government.
Would Indian diplomats and the goverment (and the numerous human rights organisations) show the same concern and alacrity for the Indian POWs that remain untraced in Pakistan more than 35 years after the ’71 war?
Oh, I forgot…there are actually no Indian POWs in Pakistani jails.
🙁
See a government statement on this matter from Mar ’02 here and Pakistan’s offer to families of the missing soldiers here.
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UPDATE: Is there more to this than we know so far?
See Haneef may have known of UK plot: Minister and Chat room talk behind Haneef’s visa cancellation.
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Haneef Case has not ended. Its just the beginning, and lets see what British Police finds out more on him where actual probe is going on.
“Diplomatic Victory”? My foot.
News Media plants stories like this. I have always argued strongly that India media must put Journalist’s name with it. We can find out the names of those journos.
Alas, Media in India acts like a cartel.
Fact of the matter is: 2 Indians were put into Jail after Madrid Blast for selling SIM card. Prime Minister did not loose sleep, neither Indian media paid any attention.
It was because, they were non-Muslim.
Here is the link to the report mentiond by Bhaskar (above) re. Indian suspects held in connection with the Madrid blasts:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/577865.cms
“Madrid blast accused family to approach Vinod Khanna”, 23 Mar 2004 (Times News Service),
Brief Excerpt:
“HOSHIARPUR: The families of the two Indians who have been held by the Spanish police in connection with the Madrid train bomb blasts are planning to approach the minister of state for external affairs Vinod Khanna to take up their case.
The families believe that their children are innocent and have been wrongly implicated in the 3/11 blasts. Vinay Kohli of village Jamsher village in Jalandhar and Suresh Kumar of Hoshiarpur were held on 13th March by the Spanish police in connection with mobile phones sold from their store that failed to go off at a train station.
…The Indians who have been held under the Spanish anti terror legislation are believed to be in isolation at the Madrid’s Soto de Real jail.”
*** COMMENT moved by MODERATOR ***
“THE HINDU : Tuesday, Mar 16, 2004
Arrest of `Indians’: details sought from Spain
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
NEW DELHI, MARCH 15. India has sought details from Spanish authorities about two men, said to be Indian nationals, who are being investigated for allegedly selling mobile telephone cards, and are possibly illegal immigrants.
Pointing out that Vinay Kohli and Suresh Kumar had not been accused of being directly involved with the deadly Madrid blasts, Ministry of External Affairs sources said that if it was confirmed they were Indian nationals, consular access would be sought.
The sources also said that India fully backed the Spanish investigation into the terrorist attack, disapproved of illegal immigration and underlined the importance of its nationals respecting the law of the land. “
[Note the words, “two men said to be Indian nationals” and “ are possibly illegal immigrants”. “India fully backed the Spanish investigation” and “underlined the importance of its nationals respecting the law of the land.”]
THE HINDU: Thursday, July 19, 2007
Extend facilities due to him: Manmohan
New Delhi Special Correspondent writes:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has once again expressed the hope that Dr. Haneef would be treated fairly by Australia.
“We hope that they will extend all the facilities within the law and the rights he is entitled to. We are in touch with the Australian Government,” he told newsmen on Wednesday morning, after the launch of a book at his official residence.
Dr. Singh also told the newsmen that “the External Affairs Minister is in touch with his counterpart in that country.”
[Is it not proof enough for the true secular nature of our Government and the media?]
Nandan: Thanks. It is interesting to see the contrast.
It is far from being success since India’s name was associated with it so the government should have done more and in time, although I appreciate that the government cannot give attention to every case but this one generated a lot of attention.
Still cant believe the highhanded manner in which the Australians dealt with it..
..and the latest is that they believe he is still a “suspect” which means either he is a lose cannon wait to explode (in India- I hope not!!) or the Australians wont budge!!