Expressing sympathy for Afzal Guru is anti national: Naidu

Mumbai, Oct 17 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Venkaih Naidu today said demanding clemency for Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru, ''anti national'' and criticised the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for his statement that if Afzal was hanged, the life of the judge, who had given sentenced him would be at risk.

Talking to reporters, Mr Naidu said such a statement was not expected from a leader like Dr Abdullah and added that the same threats could be posed by various mafia gangs to the judges also.

Mr Naidu said the Congress-led UPA and Left parties were ready to reach any compromise for their ''vote banks'' and this has been evident by the controversies over reservation to minorities, Vande Mataram issue, muslim head count in army and now Afzal Guru issue.

''Congress president Sonia Gandhi has got the time to write a letter to the President against Madhya Pradesh government's decision allowing government servants to participate in RSS but she is not interested in taking action against ISI activities,'' he added.

The Congress wants to delay the hanging of Afzal Guru keeping an eye on the Uttar Pradesh elections, he alleged.

He said so far, Afzal Guru had not applied for mercy and was saying that he had no regrets.

Referring to the proposed talks with Pakistan, Mr Naidu wondered "what signals the government was giving by such proposed talks" and added that the government should see whether the Pakistan President Pervez Mushrraf was taking any steps to control terrorism.

Mr Naidu further said BJP workers will organise a programme everywhere to hang the effigy of Afzal Guru on October 20.

Speaking on the Barak deal controversy, he claimed that NDA convenor George Fernandes was targeted by the Congress led UPA government using the CBI, since Mr Fernandes was a staunch opponent of the Congress and Nehru family.

He also clarified that though Trinmool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee tied up with the Congress in West Bengal, she would continue with the NDA.

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