'Indian govt is not bothered about Sarabjit'

Even as Surjeet Singh reached India after spending over 30 years in captivity, the family of Sarabjit Singh are still trying to get the Indian government to get him released from a Pakistani jail. However, according to an activist from People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), it is due to the Indian government’s negligence that Sarabjit has been locked in Pakistani prison for 22 years.

“The Indian government really betrays its prisoners who are out there. It is really not bothered,” Kavita Srivastava of the PUCL told CNN IBN.

"The Indian government will hype so many other things, but when it comes to people in jail it hardly does anything," Srivastava said.

Kavita Srivastava has worked extensively for the release of Indian prisoners in Pakistan and vice-versa.

Srivastava said the two countries had a mechanism under which they would exchange a list of prisoners lodged with them on 1 January and 1 July of every year.

However, the Indian government never acts on it, she said.

“Indian government never presents its list. Pakistani government is always ready with the list.” she said.

On the release of Surjeet she said, “We are very happy Surjeet is coming and Sarabjit will also come home. I have not lost hope.”