Pakistan reluctant to hand over Mumbai terror suspects: Mukherjee

Kolkata, Feb 22 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that Pakistan has been showing reluctance to hand over the arrested individuals by its authorities in connection with Mumbai terror attacks of last November.

"Though, Pakistan promised to help India into the investigation of Mumbai attacks, but it was reluctant to hand over the militants to India," Mukherjee told media persons on the sidelines of a meeting at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), adding, "Pakistan is still in denial mood, we know it."

Mukherjee, however, refused to reply to a query if New Delhi would put pressure on Pakistani government to hand over the terrorists.

During the occasion, the Minister also talked about the need for citizens to focus on country's development.

"Development helps everyone, not an individual or a particular political party. Development is for the interest of the state and the country. Development is for the welfare of the people and I firmly believe that if we can not go beyond small political interest then the state can not go forward, which will be unfortunate," he said.

Pranab also said that if the spirit for the development was lost, the structure of democracy would not be strong either.

"We should respect the verdict of the people according to the democracy. We should not raise finger towards development, otherwise, there will be no existence of democracy. We have seen so many countries, where people do not respect democracy. If the spirit is lost, the structure of democracy will not be strong," he added. (ANI)