BJP slams Delhi government for delaying Afzal Guru’s execution
By IANSWednesday, May 19, 2010
NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday hit out at the Delhi government for delaying parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s execution and claimed that 26/11 may not have happened had he been hanged earlier.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said: “Had they done it (execution) five years back, the world would have realised what India does to those who carry out terrorist activities. And may be even 26/11 would not have happened.”
While backing the Supreme Court decision to hang Guru, the Delhi government has expressed concerns about the law and order situation in the wake of his execution. To this, Javadekar retorted: “This is an insult of Muslim patriotism. We condemn it. The Delhi government should give an unconditional recommendation.”
BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also backed Javadekar’s view. “The Delhi government has abused the patriotism of crores of Muslim,” Naqvi said.
“Guru is a terrorist responsible for violence in India. Both Hindus and Muslims want him hanged immediately,” added Naqvi, a statement said.
Guru was given death penalty by a Delhi court Dec 18, 2002 after holding him guilty of conspiring to attack parliament Dec 13, 2001, waging war against the country and murder.
The Supreme Court rejected Aug 4, 2005 his appeal against the death sentence, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court Oct 29, 2003.
A sessions court set the date of his hanging Oct 20, 2006 in Tihar Jail but his wife Tabassum filed a mercy petition before the president, delaying his execution.
According to the laid down procedure, the president sought the home ministry’s views on the mercy petition and the home ministry, in turn, sought the Delhi government’s comments.
