BJP denounces politicisation of Afzal's death penalty

Jammu, sep 29 (UNI) The BJP today said the death sentence awarded to Parliament attack plotter Mohammad Afzal 'Guru' should not be politicised as it was an attack on the democracy and the sovereignty of the country.

On Jammu and kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad' seeking presidential clemency for Afzal, who will be hanged on October 20, 2006 BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said, ''People involved in Parliament attack should be hanged. It was an attack on democracy and sovereignty of the country, which should not be politicised or linked with any religion.'' ''There were about 800 MPs, including top national leaders, when fidayeens attacked Parliament. And, if the security forces had not countered it successfully, the damage could have been enormous,'' he said.

Mr Javadekar, who was attending BJP's 'Vande Mataram' celebrations here, also accused Congress of playing vote bank politics on the 'National Song' and favouring divisive forces.

''Vande Mataram is not only the National Song but a symbol of freedom struggle,'' he said.

On Indo-Pak talks, the spokesman said it would not yield any result till Islamabad stops training camps of militants and infiltration to this side.

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