Capital punishment should be abolished: Tariq

Hajipur, Oct 08: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) National General Secretary Tariq Anwar today emphasised the need to abolish capital punishment in India.

He expressed hope that President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam would consider the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir before taking any decision on the mercy petition of the convicted terrorist Afzal who was awarded capital punishment for attacking the Parliament.

Mr Anwar told mediapersons here that ''several countries have abolished capital punishment but it is an irony that it exists in India, where Lord Buddha, Mahavir and Mahatma Gandhi preached non-violence. Non-violence should be admired.'' He said several leaders of the Left parties and the present and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir have urged to convert capital punishment of Afzal into lifer and it should be considered seriously.

Mr Anwar admitted terrorism is an ideology and a movement can only uproot it. The Gandhian thoughts were relevent in this context and the path shown by the father of the nation should be used as a tool to fight the menace.

UNI

Related Stories
Varanasi: Muslim women call for Afzal's execution
Appeals from Pak to suspend Guru's execution