Cong hits out at BJP for disrupting Parliament

New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) The Congress today lashed out at the BJP for accusing it of being soft towards Mohammad Afzal Guru, sentenced to death for the Parliament attack, saying the disruption of both the Houses on the issue was hypocritical and farcical.

Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi recalled that the Opposition had the temerity to physically release and escort out Peter Bleach, a convict in the Purulia arms dropping case during the NDA regime.

It was again in the NDA regime that dreaded terrorists, who hijacked an Indian Airlines plane, were escorted to a foreign country.

''They are now lecturing us and accusing us of delaying action on Article 72. This is nothing but double speak,'' he told reporters here.

Mr Singhvi claimed that he had a detailed list of 22 cases where the process under Article 72 was initiated in 1999-2000 but not completed in the five-year tenure of the BJP-led Government.

The party spokesman said they were using this pretext to disrupt Parliament on the issue from the very first day. ''We are extemely sorry and disturbed over the deliberate disturbance caused by the Opposition to the functioning of Parliament. Every time the session starts, all our hopes that the Opposition will play a constructive role are belied.'' UNI YS MSJ BD1755