V P Singh decries death penalty to Saddam

Lucknow, Nov 7 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Singh-led Jan Morcha (JM) today opposed the death penalty handed over to deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein by an Iraqi court on Sunday.

Saddam should not be awarded capital punishment at any cost, Mr Singh said in a news release here.

''The government of India should not only stand forcefully against such a decision, but take strong and concerted diplomatic initiatives to bring like-minded countries to a common platform.'' According to the reports obtained till date, the US war of occupation has cost Iraq 5.5 milion lives, most of which have been innocent children, women and civilian, he maintained.

''This 'genocide' was carried on the pretext of Iraq being in possession of weapons of mass destruction, the veracity of which could never be testified by the weapon inspectors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

''The Bush administration owes the entire resposibility for such a large scale devastation and 'holocaust'. The assassination of three attorneys of Saddam and the transfer of fair and impartial judges puts question on the whole judicial process in Saddam's case. In such circumstances, the Centre should stand beside Saddam and the Iraqi people, whose friendship with India is time tested.'' Meanwhile, condemning the death sentence to the former Iraqi president, JM president and cine-star-turned politician Raj Babbar questioned the authority of the court to pass such a verdict.

''The script of the verdict was written in Washington by Bush, but pronounced in Baghdad to kill Saddam. It is the Bush regime which has committed 'a crime against humanity' by illegally occupying Iraq and forcing a regime change on the pretext of Iraq, possessing weapons of mass destruction. But the veracity of such charges could never be testified by the IAEA weapon inspectors.

Mr Babbar claimed the presence of US military apparatus on the Iraqi soil was a constant reminder for the third world countries that the era of direct politico-bureaucratic subjugation -- the era of imperialism -- has not ended.

''The purpose of the US intervention and occupation of Iraq is the capture of the oil field of the Gulf region, with the support of its ally Israel. The US doctrine of preemptive strike seeks 'peace through war' and not 'peace through avoidance of war'.'' Mr Babbar said the solution of the Iraqi problem rested in its internal mechanism, supported, strengthened and co-ordination by the countries of goodwill.

''India has a role to play by taking the initiative to support the peace structure in Iraq.'' Making a scathing attack on the foreign and diplomatic policies of both the NDA and UPA governments, the Agra MP termed them as myopic as they have supported the dictatorial interference in the internal matters of the country (Iraq), which has been a tranditional ally of India in the Gulf region.

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