Babri comments misunderstood: Malik

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday said his comments on 1993 Babri Masjid demolition issue, which dragged him into a controversy, were 'misunderstood'.

He said he never compared the Babri Masjid demolition incident with terror attacks.

"I never compared the demolition of the Babri Masjid to 9/11 or the Mumbai attacks," Malik told NDTV.

"I want people of India to know my statements have been misunderstood. When I mentioned Babri Masjid I was talking of inter-faith harmony in our region," he said.

Malik, who began his visit to New Delhi on Friday, courted controversy by alluding to the 1993 Babri Masjid demolition, as he said, "We do not want any 9/11, 26/11, any Samjhauta Express blast or any Babri Masjid demolition."

India´s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena on Saturday hit out at Malik for his comments.

Slamming Malik, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told media: "We can definitely say that various terrorist organisations are operating in Pakistan and producing militants. It is not only a big challenge for our country but for the world."

"So, whenever we talk about this important issue, Pakistan ignores it," Naqvi said.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told reporters: "Babri Masjid has nothing to do with Pakistan. If they think Babri Masjid has something to do with 26/11 then Pakistan is not going to improve itself."

Malik arrived in India on Friday for a three-day visit to the naighbouring country.