India asks Pakistan to stop rumours on Northeast

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Sunday called up his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik over the the issue of social media-networking sites being misused by elements based in Pakistan to circulate false pictures and stories so as to whip up communal sentiments in India. He sought Pakistan's full cooperation in checking and neutralising such elements.

This was the first communication between the two ministers since Shinde took over as India's Home Minister.

Pakistan on Sunday had rejected the Indian stand on the doctored MMS that triggered exodus of Northeast Indians from Bangalore, saying Home Secretary RK Singh's statement was highly irresponsible. "Everything happening in India is Pakistan-sponsored is irresponsible statement. Strange to see Indian Home Secretary announcing their investigations in the middle of night," sources said quoting Pakistan officials.

The Home Secretary on Saturday had said that most of the rumours that let to the exodus came from Pakistan. He had further said that the images of an incident which happened in Myanmar three and a half month back were circulated in Bangalore from across the border to incite people.

Speaking to Pakistan's Interior Minister, Shinde also conveyed his Eid wishes to him and the people of Pakistan. He expressed the hope that the occasion would herald an improvement in Indo-Pak relations.

A press release by the Government of India said that Malik briefly spoke to Shinde on the pending issues between the two ministries and reiterated his commitment to bring the masterminds and perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack to justice. He assured full mutual cooperation in the matter. Malik also invited Shinde to visit Pakistan to sign the revised Visa agreement which has now been agreed to by both sides.

Both concluded the discussion by agreeing to continue the mutual cooperation and to work towards rooting out terrorism in all its form and manifestation.

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