U.S. bounty on LeT chief Hafiz Saeed validates India's concern: Congress

New Delhi, Apr. 3 (ANI): Welcoming the decision of the United States to announce a bounty for the arrest or capture of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, the Congress Party on Tuesday said it validates India's concern that a large number of attacks, which have taken place over the years have not only emanated from Pakistan, but the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) which is considered to be an affiliate of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

"Well, I think the decision of the United States Government to put a bounty or price for the arrest or capture of Hafiz Saeed is indeed a welcome step. It validates a concern, which has been repeatedly articulated by India that a large number of attacks, which have taken place over the years have not only emanated from Pakistan, but the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) which is considered to be an affiliate of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) has been the prime proponent of these attacks," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

Tewari further said on symbolic as well as substantive level, this bounty addresses another concern, which had been voiced over the years that there was a distinction in the manner in which the United States treated terror emanating on the western border of Pakistan as opposed to the eastern border of Pakistan.

"It validates what India has been saying all along that the network of terror is seamless and it has to be addressed holistically and you cannot really make a distinction between one set of terrorist and another," he added.

Meanwhile, noted criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said the U.S. decision gives pleasure to every Indian because the terror attack on Mumbai was plotted by Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

"It (LeT) is an internationally banned terrorist organization and Hafiz Saeed is the founder of the said organization. We were contending since long time that Lashkar-e-Toiba was behind the terror attack; Hafiz Saeed has masterminded the entire conspiracy, who had provoked the terrorist persons. And not only that, but he had attended training camps in Pakistan," he said.

Nikam further said in view of the latest developments the decision now rests with Pakistan to take strict legal action against Hafiz Saeed.

"We have furnished evidence including the judicial confession of Ajmal Amir Kasab, who has vividly described as to how conspiracy was hatched, how Hafiz Saeed had participated in the criminal conspiracy. So, now it is for Pakistan to take strict legal action against Hafiz Saeed," he added.

The United States has declared a bounty of 10 million dollars on Saeed under its Rewards for Justice programme.

Pakistan-based Hafiz Saeed is the founder of one of the deadliest terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

Saeed is believed to be the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people, including six Americans, were killed. He is on India's most wanted list. (ANI)