Sarabjit's death blot on India's reputation: Uddhav Thackeray

The death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh following a murderous assault in a Lahore jail was a "blot" on India's reputation, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said Friday.

"Sarabjit Singh was killed inside a high-security Pakistani jail. It means that Pakistan wanted him killed. Earlier, Chamel Singh was similarly killed and recently Pakistani soldiers mutiliated two of our soldiers on the border," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece "Saamana".

If India could release an ailing and aged Pakistani doctor, Khalil Chisti, on humanitarian grounds, what prevented the neighbour from reciprocating and releasing Sarabjit Singh, he asked

"This is a blot on India's reputation," Thackeray said.

The Sena chief said that Indian Muslims have now got a good opportunity to protest against Pakistan.

"They should take to the streets in Mumbai and New Delhi," Thackeray said, adding that Indian Muslims have in the past protested against insults to Islam in the USA and Denmark.