NEW DELHI, Feb 3: India’s ruling Congress party on Friday disapproved of party leader Mani Shakar Aiyar appearing on a Pakistan TV talk show in which Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, participated through a phone link, the Press Trust of India said.

“I don’t know the (details)...I certainly think propriety would require that such situation should be avoided...unless trapped in a situation,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

The PTI quoted him as saying it was clear that Mr Aiyar, on a peace visit to Pakistan, was not supporting Hafiz directly or indirectly. “Even the perception of interaction with somebody accused of such heinous crimes like 26/11.... is not acceptable.”

Mr Singhvi’s comments came a day after Mr Aiyar appeared on the TV show in which the host suddenly introduced Mr Saeed, chief of Jamaatud Dawa, via phone link while Mr Aiyar was in the studio in Islamabad with another panel list.

In the show, Mr Saeed appeared to lose his cool when Mr Aiyar questioned his contention that Indians did not accept Pakistan and said he should be arrested and brought before a terrorism court, the PTI said.