NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Calls for speedy hanging of 2001 Parliament attack death row convict Afzal Guru grow louder after the execution of Ajmal Kasab today with opposition BJP leading the charge. Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh also wanted the government to "expedite" the decision on the issue of Afzal Guru, who was sentenced to death in 2004.
President Pranab Mukherjee, meanwhile, returned seven mercy petitions, including that of Guru, for consideration of the Union home ministry. Official sources said it was a normal procedure for the President to refer all pending mercy petitions for consideration to a new home mMinister after he takes charge. Since Sushilkumar Shinde took charge as a home minister on August 1, the seven mercy petitions, including that of Guru, were sent to him for consideration, they said. Shinde himself refused to say anything on when a decision on Guru would be taken, hours after the operation to execute the lone surviving Pakistani gunman in the Mumbai attack was carried out in secrecy.
"What about Afzal Guru, who attacked Parliament, our temple of democracy, in 2001? That offence predates Kasab's heinous act by many years," BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. On Kasab's hanging, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said it had been delayed and asked why Guru had not been sent to the gallows yet. "Kasab has been hanged. But it has taken a lot of time. I want to ask the UPA government why Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru has not been hanged even 10 years after the incident ... Will this government implement the Supreme Court verdict on Afzal Guru. This government should clarify," Gadkari said at a rally in Delhi.
He also accused Congress of doing vote bank politics. Welcoming the execution of Kasab, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh hoped the government would now pursue the case against the handlers in Pakistan as also expedite the decision on Guru.
"I welcome it. Now the government of India should pursue the case against the handlers in Pakistan. They should expedite the decision on Afzal Guru," Singh said. Seven people were killed in the Parliament attack during which five militants were also eliminated.
Expedite decision on Afzal Guru: Digvijaya Singh
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Expedite decision on Afzal Guru: Digvijaya Singh
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Expedite decision on Afzal Guru: Digvijaya Singh
