Don't politicise Sarabjit death: Preneet Kaur

The government had been proactive and never missed an opportunity to take up Sarabjit Singh's case, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said Thursday while stressing that this was not the time to "politicise the issue".

"For all those who are saying that (external affairs) ministry and the government has not been proactive enough, it is totally wrong. We have never lost an opportunity or time to take up Sarabjit's case up to the Pakistan government," she said.

"The opposition always makes charges. But this is not the time to make a political issue of this sad event. We are doing everything we can and we will help Sarabjit's family in this case," she said.

The minister said Pakistan had been asked for the autopsy report.

"We will certainly demand that the perpetrators be brought to book. The sole responsibility should be fixed on the people who committed this crime. They should be severely punished," Preneet Kaur told a news channel here.

Discussing the status of other Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails, she said: "This is something that we have repeatedly taken up with Pakistan. It is really their responsibility... duty to look after the Indian prisoners who are in their jail."

Sarabjit Singh, on death row in Pakistan after conviction in terrorist strikes in Punjab province, Pakistan, had been comatose since April 26, when he was savagely attacked by two fellow prisoners at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. He had spent over 20 years in jail.