Having not done much — in fact, anything, as many would say — the Indian government and the political parties seem to be competing with each to pay tribute to Sarabjit Singh, the Indian national who died following an attack in a Pakistan jail and who was cremated at Bhikiwind in Punjab on May 3. While prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday called Sarabjit a “brave son of India who bore his tribulations with valiant fortitude”, the Punjab government declared a three-day state mourning, among other measures.

On Friday, among those who placed wreaths on Sarabjit’s coffin were Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur, Akal Takht chief Gurbachan Singh and Punjab’s cabinet ministers, says a report in firstpost.com. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who had met Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur in New Delhi yesterday, was also present and placed a wreath on the coffin.

Most of these political leaders, mind you, did little or nothing all these years Sarabjit was languishing in Pakistani jail.

While the sentiments post-death are understandable the purpose may not that crystal clear. So, are the political parties using Sarabjit’s death for political mileage?