The denial came even though the released prisoner, Surjeet Singh, 69, had told Indian media on Thursday that he was spying for India when he was arrested by Pakistani authorities in the 1980s.
Singh, who was sentenced to death after being convicted by a Pakistani court on spying charges, returned to India on Thursday after being freed.
"We do not accept this (that Singh was a spy). It is completely wrong," Indian Home Secretary RK Singh told a news conference in New Delhi.
"We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing," he said in response to reporters' questions about whether the freed man worked for government agencies.
"Neither do we do spying, nor we send spies," the home secretary added.
The two Singhs are not related.
Surjeet Singh had told Indian reporters after returning home that he had gone to Pakistan for "spying" and named the Research and Analysis Wing, India's espionage agency, as his paymaster.
In April 2011, Gopal Das, one of Pakistan's longest-serving Indian prisoners, was released after Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari intervened in his case.
Upon his release, Das admitted he was an Indian spy and lashed out at the Indian authorities for abandoning him during his 23 years in jail.
COMMENTS (65)
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It was decided during Prime Minister ship of Mr Indra Kumar Gujral that RAW will not employ any agent in neighboring country for spying and so today RAW does not have any agent but they are using small time ruffians , who do some business across the border by providing some small concession for intelligence gathering.So when Indian Home Secretary who is not a Politician is saying that they are not sending spy then he must be right.Pakistan has been accusing India on Baluchistan but why Pakistan have not produced someone like India has done in case of Ajmal Kasab.
@Zeta: We are not to blame if you make fool of yourself for not having a proper knowledge. He was convicted spy and was on death row. Zardari changed his death sentence into life sentence which was completed. One would assume that when you set out to ridicule someone's knowledge of events in Pakistan, yours wouldn't be so poor. Surjeet's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by Ghulam Ishaque Khan around 20 years back. Zardari had nothing to do with his release as he had completed his sentence.
@Indian: "@Falcon: Hahahahaha, look at yourself who, after 23 years of trial, couldn’t prove that he was a spy and released him. Tch tch tch!"
We are not to blame if you make fool of yourself for not having a proper knowledge. He was convicted spy and was on death row. Zardari changed his death sentence into life sentence which was completed.
@Falcon: Hahahahaha, look at yourself who, after 23 years of trial, couldn't prove that he was a spy and released him. Tch tch tch!
@mr. righty rightist: Your name suggests your self-obsession. Anyways, things like this create a huge amount of scepticism for other genuine cases. Any person who takes up a job in RAW and goes to India's biggest enemy country for spying, is always aware of possibilities of this nature. I can't understand why did he have to make these comments on the very first day and why was a SPY treated so well in Pakistan that he looks amazingly healthy at an age of 69. Fingers will be pointed in all directions Mr Righty Rightist.
@Lala Gee: Good to see some Pakistani reading Indian newspaper for the lack of good Pakistani news. By the way, what do you expect from us Indians?
@123: Hahahaha, and the so-called RAW agent would make this comment on the first day of landing back to India??? C'mon, apply some common sense. The person has been brainwashed and sent back to India to generate debates like this.
@academic_econ: You never know if he's an Indian spy released from Pakistani prisons or an Indian someone who has been brainwashed for all these years and sent back to India to spy on India and destroy the institution of RAW. We never know and will never know.
Of course he went there for spying. So what? Every intelligence agency has been established to do exactly that.
@ Pakistani trolls:- A spy never admits he is a spy. Not even under pressure. So obviously surjeet at 69 seems to be looking for his 10 min fame in the media. If he claims to be a top secret spy,and was getting information from Army clarks, enough to defeat Pak army, it sounds outlandish. Police informers are basic ad critical parts of policing worldover. Most police informers are independent, at timers criminals themselves, and are paid if information is correct. similarly Intelligence agencies use low level independent informers all the time. So what is the big deal? Ofcourse india sends spies, as does every govt on earth. MI6/CIA/Mossad/RAW/ISI.. the list is endless. Question is whether its wise or foolish to look after a low level informer for 25 years in jail. It would have been betterv to just deport him, as is often done for illegal immigrants. This is quite a dumb discussion!!
“We do not accept this (that Singh was a spy). It is completely wrong,” Indian Home Secretary RK Singh told a news conference in New Delhi. “We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing,” he said in response to reporters’ questions about whether the freed man worked for government agencies. “Neither do we do spying, nor we send spies,” the home secretary added." The truth is always truth no matter you deny to accept it and would you like to tell us that did you accept your responsibility for involvement in any negative activities in Pakistan?You are not angels and also don't have angelic manners/feelings/attitudes for Pakistan.And when Surjeet Singh himself saying so that he was sent to Pakistan by RAW then I am surprised how are denying this his truth?And more over you are saying that we don't do spying and even don't send spies.How funny,hypocritical,false,fabricated and embellished statement of yours is this!!!!!!!!
This proves that our RAW is a failed agency which absolutely has no intelligence. I hate to admit, ISI is much better intelligence agency than RAW. RAW simply sucks !!
Indian official's statement is a joke. This along with the "missing" list provided to Pak when they were not actually missing is another jewel in the crown of Indian bureaucracy. They should have kept quiet. Nobody is going to believe this, neither Indian govt is not spying.
The guy probably got caught for some petty crime and is embarassed about it. Now, ex post facto, he wants to look like a hero in front of his countrymen - so he comes back and says he was "spying". Just think about it: Can an uneducated farmer become James Bond? How would he have got access to Classified documents from Pakistani departments? How would he have been able to judge their contents?
Use your intelligence, people.
"Neither do we do spying, nor we send spies" ... This is hilarious !! Every country does this for their sovereignty... I have nothing more to say :D
Here is the video footage from Indian Media NDTV in which Surjeet Singh is openly confessing in the Media that He came to Pakistan for spying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playerembedded&v=05nDgUgiik
It's just to tell that what a Big Liar is Indian Minister Chadambaram. Not Only him but all those Indian Trolls are nothing by Liars who lie all the time. Listen yourself in this video and see what he tells the media. Terrorism is the backbone of the Indian Regime. With what face it accuse others of terrorism when Hindu Regime itself is the sponsor of Terrorism in Asia. Indian trolls should shut themselves up now and think other ways to lie to support their State terrorism. No one anyone Believe the Regime anyway.
This is the most foolish statement ever made public. Recently after india's failed drama of accusing Pakistan when the supposed at large terrorist Pakistanis in mumbai were found in Lahore and a bogus list of terrorirst they made a while back, in which half of the accused were found in india and they end up humiliating themselves, Indian government has lost complete credibilty. I can bet you they dont even have any solid proof of Pakistan involvement in mumbai attacks . Thats why uncle sam is offering $10 million for the evidence to convict h.saeed
The Indian Home minister would have served his country by making no comments at all. For a change, I agree with most of the Pakistani readers in concluding the the Indian response reflects immaturity.
So this is what Agent Vinod really looks like. No Bollywood numbers here.
and he is not the first one who admitted.Before him Kashmir Sing and Gopal das did the same thing.
lol at the Indian Government how stupid do they think people are? The guy admitted he was spying for the nation to the media and your lying straight forward?
Keep it up:)
@logic_needed: Yes he was spying on Pak troop deployments so in case of war IAF could drop sweets precisely over their positions.
and "RAW was not formed when this Singh is king went to pakistan " ( 2nd part of the statement of homeminister would be) :D
This is statement couldn't come at a better time. India recently claimed that Pakistani State actors were involved in the Mumbai attacks... and now they make this statement. While I wouldn't say that I believe anything my own country's interior minister says, I can now safely question the validity of the former claim.
What else can you say when you are caught with your pants down :)
Surjeet says he came as a spy, India says he is not a spy. I am totally confused. Who should I believe?
We do not accept this (that Singh was a spy). It is completely wrong,We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing,” he said in response to reporters’ questions about whether the freed man worked for government agencies
Even Indians will not believe in words of their Home Sect.
Sarjeet Singh give this statement in India, so no one can say he was in some pressure by Pakistan...Its time for India and Indians to accept that he was a spy and RAW is still involved in Baluchistan.
Sadly....Sarjeet's disclosure has made things difficult for Sarabjeet
@Ali tanoli: thats what he means.
“We do not accept this (that Singh was a spy). It is completely wrong,” Indian Home Secretary RK Singh told a news conference in New Delhi.
But we do accept it simply because if he was not a spy he would not have said it!! It is as simple as that. No rocket science. I'm shocked how come he has lived to go back as such acts demands stern and exemplary actions.
@Mirza: All the countries indulge in clandestine activities...even friendly ones are not spared. How can we claim we do not do such things. Singh should be accorded due honours for his lost 30 years.
sarjeet singh accepts he was spy but indian govt denies it, on the other hand indian govt allege pakistan of mumbai attach but no evidence... who to blame and who is innocent is in front of whole world now.
“We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing,”.......“Neither do we do spying, nor we send spies,”......hahahahaha... :D ...joke of day.....every country send spies to others....Americans who has best technology in the world even they send spies to collect ground realities......
i can understand typical state denial but second statement is beyond my understanding....i think in effort to make the world fool.......he made fool out of himself
Indian Government statement is the biggest lie of 21st century on earth.
Surjeet Singh after stepping inside Indian territory has admitted the fact in a press conference that he was sent by Indian Intelligence Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for spying in Pakistan, which is on record, the clips can be seen on YouTube.
Due to increasing activities of RAW between 1990 to 1992, the Government of Pakistan shut down Indian Consulate from Karachi and sent all Indian diplomats back to home.
@mr. righty rightist: If he is not a spy and is just claiming to be a spy then he will not get anything from government but others will value him and his family for ever. It is very likely that he is a spy, in that case, the agency will give him due respect and prize in private, not in full media view. In either case he will get something for lost 30 years of his life. Secondly he was a spy not a terrorist. He was not caught firing with Ak-47 on women and children.
Too late. Might as well had skipped on the denial to avoid further humiliation but IndoPak bureaucracy is not much smart it seems.
hahahah......Seriously!
@Ali tanoli: "@Babloo So u saying spying agency dont work under Democratic Govt orders hahahhahah
"
Your English comprehension skils are weak. RAW does report to cibvilians. Bablo is saying that this man may not be a RAW emmployee but may have been a mercenary hired to spy for India. Also Surjeet Singh has not been responsible for any killings. Are you confusing him with Sarabjeet Singh who was accused of terror attacks but has made no admission of culpability?
As an Indian I tend to agree with my fellow Indians. . It is possible that this particular man was not hired by RAW but to that that we do not have spies makes no sense. It would be really irresponsible if that were the case.
hahaha....statement of the year from the indians.
@Babloo So u saying spying agency dont work under Democratic Govt orders hahahhahah
“We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing,”
Neither do we do spying, nor we send spies,” the home secretary added.
Which planet is he on?
@Babloo
I also agree with your angle.
It's perfectly possible that he was a mercenary type of a spy. I don't know what is the word for it and has had no links with the government whatsoever at any point in time. This also gives the government 100% deniability and nobody can produce an iota of proof. Not even Sarjeet himself.
@Babloo. Spying and killings innocents peoples in pakistan is not a crime but Mumbai is crime???? what a diffenation man.
Yes I do think he was a spy, possibly indirectly employed by intelligence agency. He may not have been directly employed by government because his family has been unable to produce any documentation that he was employed by the government. However, its possible, some employees of government, gave him money to do spying. Spying is no crime. The intent behind spying is what makes a spying crime or not. If the intent is to collect information about Pakistan, its troop depolyment and internal situation, intentions and capabiulities. Its not a crime. Infact its duty of countries to have the correct information about other countries. Thats what most spies do. However, if the intent is to attack Pakistan or stage attacks or sabotage , then its a crime. India does send spies to Pakistan to collect intelligence on Pakistan. All countries do. Thats no crime in international politics. India does not send spies to attack or sabotage. Its only a crime when you send someone to stage terrorist attacks or sabotage.
Pakistan denies of Kasab india denies of Surjeet and sarabjit america denies of raymond davis world of denies.
Regardless of whether Surjeet is a spy or not, the home secretary has managed to make a fool of himself.
lolzz...Funniest statement till date...India looks like a kid who was caught with his hands in the candy jar...“We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing”
wow how can they lie so blatantly?
“We deny it (because) we do not do this kind of thing,” he said in response to reporters’ questions about whether the freed man worked for government agencies.
“Neither do we do spying, nor we send spies,” the home secretary added.
@123:
"Of course you do not do this kind of thing. The institution of RAW was established to arrange beach parties, right?"
Hello Indian trolls. Where are you? Have you any answer.
What else you can expect?
all raw agents ahould stop working for india as india does not own them.agents place their life at risk and in return get nothing.
Nothing can be ruled out. He may be or may not be a spy. Claiming to be a spy is a good way to get media attention and then sue the Indian government for compensation. He is playing his cards to get as best as he can. He will like to claim heroism in India for sure.
now india is in a state of denial.raj.hedgefunder will u comment on it.!!!!
Just saw an interview this guy gave to an Indian news channel after reaching India. He claims that he was the "top spy" of his time and whatever he did, no one else can even come close to his "achievements". He said that he was in regular contact with various clerks in Pak Army, who use to steal documents for him whenever he was given any task by RAW. He even said that he had provided such vital secret information of Pak Army operations to RAW that in case of any war in the 1980s, Pak Army would have crumbled in the same way they did in East Pakistan. The Indian Army has however, not yet owned him, which is understandable
This man admitted infront of Indian Media that he was a spy. The Indian government of course will deny he did their dirty work.
India is two faced country. Good in the Media, bad behind the scene.
Shame on the Indian government and, from what I saw in the comments section, most of the Indians who post here. This person gave the best years of his life to his country by rotting in a foreign jail and you don't have the decency to thank him and acknowledge his sacrifice. Just take a moment and imagine even a month in jail and if you do, maybe you will understand what this guy did for his ungrateful nation and people!!!
People are in denial.
Of course you do not do this kind of thing. The institution of RAW was established to arrange beach parties, right?
Rubbish!