If NIA not allowed to visit Pakistan, it will be betrayal: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today came down heavily on Pakistan saying if the neighbouring country does not allow an NIA team to visit there for probe into the attack on the Pathankot airbase, it would be a "betrayal" to India. Singh also said that Jammu and Kashmir has never been an issue between India and Pakistan and if there is an issue between the two countries, it is the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Addressing a gathering of prominent persons and intellectuals here, the Home Minister said when the Joint Investigation Team of Pakistan proposed to visit India for investigating the Pathankot terror attack case, it was mutually agreed that after the visit of the Pakistani investigators to India, a team of National Investigation Agency would also visit the neighbouring country for probe and interrogate some people. "But so far Pakistan has not given permission to the NIA to visit there. If the NIA team is not allowed to visit Pakistan, it will be a betrayal to India," he said. Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said Kashmir has never been an issue for India and Pakistan. "If there is an issue, it is the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, not Kashmir, he said. The Home Minister said Pakistan should prove that it was not supporting terrorism by allowing the NIA team to visit Pakistan. Singh said it was established that the attackers of Pathankot airbase came from Pakistan and India has taken the issue very seriously. (Reopens DEL37) Addressing the gathering as part of "Vikash Parv" in the wake of two year completion of the Narendra Modi government, the Home Minister claimed that in last two years, the country has achieved the GDP growth of 7.6 per cent which was commendable. Singh said through the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, Rs 61,000 crore subsidies have been distributed among three crore beneficiaries. Listing NDA government's achievements, the Home Minister said during 2013-14, work of 3,500 km national highway was awarded and in 2014-15, work of 8,000 km highway was awarded. But during 2015-16, work order to construct 10,000 km national highway was issued and a target of awarding contract for constructing 25,000 km national highway was set for 2016-17. Singh also highlighted the government's decision to end interview for the class C and D posts besides the elimination of attestation by gazetted officer and introduction of self attestation policy.