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Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Sanjay Raut’s remarks on Tahawwur Rana’s extradition, saying he doesn’t respond to ‘fools’. He also praised the Centre for bringing Rana to India.
Devendra Fadnavis (L)/Sanjay Raut (R) (Photos: PTI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday took a dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut over his remark on the 26/11 terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, and said he does not respond to “fools”.
Fadnavis made the statement while he was asked to comment on Rana’s extradition to India.
His reaction was also sought on Raut’s statement that Rana would be hanged during Bihar elections.
“I don’t respond to fools, let them talk,” Fadnavis said.
Also commenting on Rana’s extradition, the Maharashtra Chief Minister said, “I am very pleased that the mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks, the one who orchestrated the conspiracy, Tahawwur Rana, has been successfully brought to India by the government.”
“He will have to face our judicial system. We had this burden on our hearts that while we had hanged Kasab, the one behind the conspiracy was still at large. Now, thanks to Prime Minister Modi, we have been able to bring him to India,” he said.
“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating this, and we will provide any assistance required from the Mumbai police. If the NIA needs any help in their investigation, we will offer it,” the Chief Minister said.
WHAT SANJAY RAUT SAID
Sanjay Raut on Thursday said Rana, who was extradited to India on Thursday, should be hanged immediately and claimed the government will do so during Bihar elections.
Raut also demanded that Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was captured in 2016 and was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying, be brought back home. India has dismissed Pakistan’s accusation as concocted.
“Rana should be immediately hanged but he will be hanged during the Bihar polls (scheduled later this year),” Raut told PTI.
Raut said there was a 16-year-old battle to bring Rana to India and it started during the Congress rule. “So no one should take the credit of bringing back Rana,” Raut added.
The Sena (UBT) MP said Rana is not the first accused to be extradited to India. In the past, 1993 serial blast accused Abu Salem too was extradited to India, he noted.
He also demanded that economic fugitives Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi be extradited to India.