Afzal Guru: Delhi BJP demands white paper

Alleging that Delhi government was playing around with the mercy petition of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, BJP today demanded that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit should issue a 'white paper' on why it delayed in taking a stand on the "sensitive" issue.

"Delhi government is playing around with the sensitive issue. Why are they sitting over the file for four years when it can be proceeded in four minutes. The Chief Minister should issue a white paper and should apologise to the people," state BJP President Vijender Gupta said here.

He also asked Dikshit to make public the government's reply to the reminder sent by the Home Ministry on April 28.

"Initially, the CM says she was not aware of any reminder sent by the Home Ministry. Then she says a reply has been filed and within hours she moves the file to Lt Governor. She should make public the contents of her reply," the BJP leader said.
    
He demanded that Guru, who is on death row for the 2001 Parliament attack, should be hanged immediately.
    
"A terrorist, irrespective of whether he is a Hindu or Muslim, should get the right punishment. By not taking action, the Delhi government has betrayed the faith of thousands of true Muslims," Gupta said.
    
The MHA, in a letter dated April 28 addressed to Delhi Home Secretary G S Patnaik, sought the state government's opinion Guru's mercy petition.
    
Initially, Dikshit said she was not aware of any such letter. On Wednesday, Delhi Government had sent the file on Guru to Lt Governor Tejindra Khanna, unambiguously backing the capital punishment for the convict.
    
But at the same time, the city government had asked the Centre to take care of the law and order situation while carrying out the execution here.
     
Dikshit yesterday the file has been moved to the Lt Governor and the Union Home Ministry will take a final decision on the issue.
    
Guru, a resident of Sopore in the Kashmir Valley, was found guilty of plotting the December 13, 2001, Parliament attack and was sentenced to death by a trial court in December 2002. The Delhi High Court confirmed the death penalty in October 2003. PTI KKE