Shocked to hear nonsense accusations by Sarabjit's sister: Burney

New Delhi: Human rights activist Ansar Burney on Thursday refuted the claims made by Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh's sister Dalbir Kaur. Dalbir Kaur had claimed that Burney demanded Rs 25 crore from her to ensure Sarabjit's release from Pakistan.

Rubbishing Dalbir Kaur's claims, Burney tweeted, "I was shocked to hear nonsense & false accusation by Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarbajit Singh, I was the one who helped her every time. I feel a lot of pain by her false & slanderous allegations since I always tried to help her family and her brother on humanitarian grounds."

Burney also accused Dalbir Kaur of politicising the issue. "I am very surprised rather shocked that she is politicising the matter which was purely treated as matter of human rights by me. How can I ask for any demand in lieu of her brother's release when I am not holding any ministry or authority to do so at present," he tweeted.

"How can I ask for any demand from a lady from whom even I have never asked for a cup of tea and for whose family I was helping on humanity," burney added. He also said this may be a conspiracy to defame him. "That is what I am wondering about, there might be some hidden agenda or hidden forces behind all this to defame me," he tweeted.

Dalbir Kaur had alleged that Pakistan human rights activist Ansar Burney had demanded Rs 25 crore to help Sarabjit. "Had I paid Rs 25 crore to Ansar Burney, Sarabjit would have returned to India. I am poor so could not pay him. Burney had told me that at least pay Rs 2 crore to get Sarabjit. He told him that if I will give him the money in the morning, Sarabjit will be released by evening," she alleged.

This came after Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh died in Pakistan six days after being attacked in a Lahore jail.