New Delhi, May 2: As an outraged government and political parties across the spectrum showed solidarity with 49-year-old Sarabjit's family, his sister Dalbir Kaur said he should be declared a martyr.
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Sarabjit Singh. He was a brave son of India who bore his tribulations with valiant fortitude," the Prime Minister said in his condolence message.
"It is particularly regrettable that the government of Pakistan did not heed the pleas of the government of India, Sarabjit's family and of the civil society in India and Pakistan to take a humanitarian view of this case," he said.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said he was "extremely anguished".
Khurshid said, "Governments can sometimes disagree, governments can sometimes sit together and talk but a sustainable and long-lasting relationship has to be between people and I think that today has been very, very sadly, in a very distressing manner, that is a relationship that has been hurt by this terrible tragedy."
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi accused governments of India and Pakistan of "misleading" people on the Sarabjit case. "Truth on this issue must come out," he tweeted.
"Centre is unable to give a strong answer to Pakistan's inhuman acts. Beheading of our soldiers & now Sarabjit's death are 2 recent examples," he said on Twitter.
