A fresh political firestorm has erupted after jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik claimed in a Delhi High Court affidavit that he was personally thanked by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for meeting Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The meeting, Malik alleges, was part of a backchannel peace initiative orchestrated by Indian intelligence officials.
Pralhad Joshi Responds: ‘We Don’t Tolerate Nonsense’
Hubli-Dharwad MP and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi reacted strongly to Malik’s claims, accusing the previous UPA government of appeasement and weak counter-terror policies.
“They (Former PM Manmohan Singh) had handshakes with Yasin Malik… Earlier, he used to go to the Prime Minister’s residence and he was fed biryani,” Joshi said.
“That’s why people despise them. Our approach is clear—‘Ghus ke Marenge’. Whether they’re in Pakistan or anywhere, we don’t tolerate this nonsense.”
#WATCH | Mumbai | On Yasin Malik's claim that he briefed then PM Manmohan Singh after Hafiz Saeed meeting, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi says, "They (Former PM Manmohan Singh) had handshakes with Yasin Malik… They had come into contact even earlier… What was their approach?… pic.twitter.com/KWdfx5caZR
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2025
Joshi credited the current administration’s zero-tolerance stance for the decline in terrorist activity across India.
Malik’s Affidavit: A Political Flashpoint
In his affidavit, Malik claimed that his 2006 meeting with Hafiz Saeed was not self-initiated but conducted at the request of senior Intelligence Bureau officials.
He said he was later asked to brief PM Manmohan Singh, who allegedly expressed gratitude for his efforts to engage hardline elements in Pakistan.
Malik, currently serving a life sentence for terror funding, called the case against him a “classic betrayal,” arguing that his actions were officially sanctioned but later weaponized against him.
BJP vs Congress: The Fallout
Joshi’s remarks have reignited debate over the UPA’s handling of Kashmir and its engagement with separatist leaders.
BJP leaders have questioned the diplomatic ethics of allowing a convicted militant access to the Prime Minister’s residence.
Meanwhile, Congress has yet to issue a formal response to Malik’s claims or Joshi’s comments.
Legal & Public Repercussions
- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently seeking to upgrade Malik’s sentence to the death penalty
- The affidavit has intensified scrutiny of India’s covert peace strategies during the 2000s
- Victims of terror attacks and Kashmiri Pandit groups have condemned Malik’s claims as revisionist and provocative.
Yasin Malik’s explosive affidavit has reignited long-standing tensions over India’s counter-terror strategy and political accountability.
The controversy underscores a deeper national reckoning: how far should diplomacy go when dealing with individuals linked to terror?