BJP demands Afzal's hanging; executes him symbolically

New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) Criticising the Centre's decision to defer the capital punishment awarded to Mohammad Afzal Guru, the main conspirator convicted in the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament till further orders, the BJP and many other parties today held demonstrations by marching and burning him in effigy.

Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy condemned the Centre for not executing the death penalty for Afzal.

In a statement here, he said Afzal himself had not asked for mercy and the Union Law Ministry had also well in time advised the Union Home Ministry that no legal basis exists for not carrying out the sentence.

The BJP leaders and other party activists in Chandigarh burnt Guru in effigy demanding his hanging for his conviction in the attack on Parliament in 2001.

The BJP's youth wing Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists gathered at the party office, raised anti-government slogans and burnt him in effigy in the wake of his hanging being deferred for the time being by the Centre.

In Kerala, the BJP activists marched to the Collectorate in protest. The BJP state unit Vice President P M Velayudhan inaugurated the march.

Demanding the execution of Afzal Guru and refuting mercy plea for him, the Uttaranchal unit of BJYM hung him in effigy at Clock Tower in Dehra Dun.

BJYM State President Pushkar Singh Dhami calling Afzal a hard core terrorist, said he warranted no mercy.

Criticising the Congress leaders for coming forward in Afzal's mercy plea, Dhami said they were doing so to appease the Muslims.

Venting its strong anger against attempts of certain quarters in political circle for clemency to Afzal, Bihar BJP unit symbolically executed him at all district headquarters across the state.

BJP workers executed Afzal at Dakbungalow crossing under the leadership of party MLA Arun Sinha.

Addressing the workers, party leaders cautioned the political leaders who were making statements favouring clemency to the terrorist, saying that this kind of development was a serious threat to unity and integrity of the country.

In Puducherry, police arrested 33 RSS and BJP volunteers when they attempted to burn an effigy.

The volunteers gathered near the Indira Gandhi Square and held a demonstration to press the government not to grant clemency to Afzal and that he be hanged.

UNI Team SB BS2039