Indian govt not taking up Capt Kalia issue with Pak seriously: BJP

New Delhi: Reacting sharply to government’s statement that it is not taking up the case of Capt Saurabh Kalia killed by Pakistani forces during the Kargil war, BJP today alleged the UPA government has not taken up this and other serious issues in a strong manner with Pakistan. “It is a shocking reality. You have taken the example of Captain Saurabh Kalia but on many issues which are as grave as this, we have repeatedly found the government not taking them up seriously at the ministry level,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said. [caption id=“attachment_1167345” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Captain Kalia. IBNLive. [/caption] She was replying to a question on BJP’s stand on the government giving up the case of Captain Kalia, who was brutally killed by Pakistani forces during the Kargil war. The government has cited the Shimla Agreement with Pakistan to say that since it is bound by this treaty with Islamabad, it cannot take up this issue. “The sovereign authority with which you may persuade a neighbouring state about issues which are very critical to your national honour are being neglected. I am using the word neglected here with a certain discretion,” Sitharaman said. Captain Kalia’s parents had been fighting the battle for the last 14 years to get justice for their son. “This government is definitely neglecting issues of Indian state’s honour and Indian people’s honour,” the BJP spokesperson said. PTI