On Dawood, Saeed: They must not think India is not thinking about them, said Rathore. On Dawood, Saeed: They must not think India is not thinking about them, said Rathore.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said Sunday the government will explore every possible means, including carrying out a covert or a special operation, to neutralise Pakistan-based terrorists Dawood Ibrahim or Hafiz Saeed.

Asked on Aaj Tak’s Seedhi Baat programme why was a military operation not carried out against Dawood Ibrahim as was done in the case of Myanmar-based insurgents who had struck in Manipur, Rathore said: “Ho sakta hai karein. Lekin karne se pehle charcha nahi hogi. Karne ke baad ho sakta hai ho jaye.

Ho sakta hai na bhi ho. Ye depend karta hai ki jo operation hua hai usko sarkar darza deti hai ki kya woh covert operation hona chahiye ya special operation hona chahiye (It is possible that an operation is launched. But it will not be talked about before it is launched. It might be talked about later. This depends on whether the government decides to carry out a covert operation or a special operation).”

He said India had not just prepared a dossier (for Pakistan) but was ready to use other options as well. “Saam daam dand bhed, sab cheezon ka istemaal hoga. Dossier bhi denge aur baaki sab kuch bhi hoga (Every possible option will be used. We will give the dossier also, and other means will also be utilised).”

WATCH VIDEO: Rathore on Seedhi Baat

“Hindustan ka dushman chahe kahin bhi baitha ho, ye galatfahmi me na rahe ki Hindustan unke khilaaf kuch soch nahi raha hai. Hum har waqt apne dushman ko neutralise karne ke liye taiyyar rahte hain (India’s enemies, wherever they are based, must never be under the delusion that India is not thinking about them. We are always ready to neutralise our enemies),” he said.

“Covert operation ki ho sakta hai charcha kabhi bhi na ho. Kai desh karte hain. Special operation ki charcha operation se pahle nahi hoti. Baad me ho sakti hai. To ye sarkar ka nirnay hai, kab karen. Ho sakta hai abhi ho rahi ho. Ho sakta hai nahi ho rahi ho. Lekin charcha hogi, hone ke baad (It is possible that a covert operation never gets discussed. Special operation can be discussed but not before it is launched. It is the government’s decision when to launch an operation. May be it is happening right now. May be not. But discussion can only happen after the operation),” he said.

Rathore maintained that the government still believes dialogue is the best way to find a way forward with Pakistan, but insisted that a dialogue, in current circumstances, can only happen on ending terror.

After the raid into Myanmar, Rathore had tweeted on June 9: “Indian Army strikes into the heart of militants. Desh ke dushmano ko karara jawab. Kushal netratva, Majboot sarkar PM@narendramodi#56inchRocks.”

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