BJP accuses UPA Govt of dragging its feet over Afzal's hanging

New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party today accused the UPA Government of deliberately going slow on the mercy petition of Mohammad Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case, with an eye on its Muslim vote bank.

Talking to reporters after both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned after the Opposition NDA vociferously demanded that Afzal be hanged without any further delay, Mr Malhotra said while the Government had taken a decision within 15 hours on the killers of General Vaidya, it was showing leniency to the terrorist, who wanted to wipe out Parliament, the highest edifice of democracy, and the entire leadership of the country.

''It is unfortunate,'' he said, asserting that the BJP would not tolerate any further delay in the execution of Afzal.

Mr Malhotra said the Government could not justify any further delay, particularly when their own Home Minister Shivraj Patil yesterday stated that many important places and installations were vulnerable to terrorists attack.

He also objected to the Home Minister's statement, saying Mr Patil had revealed such an important piece of information outside Parliament while it was in session.

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