Jethmalani has different take on Afzal's hanging

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) Legal luminary and Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani today had altogther a different take on why Afzal Guru, the prime convict in the 2001 Parlaiment attack case, should not be hanged.

''If Afzal is hanged, he will go to the heaven and meet houris there. This is the way he has been indoctrinated,'' Mr Jethmalani said, while participating in a discussion on the internal security scenario in the Upper House.

Mr Jethmalani, an Independent member of the House, suggested that Afzal instead be made to languish in jail for a life term.

The reference to 'houris' drew protest from CPM leader Brinda Karat, who said it smacked of a ''sexist'' remark. ''It is a serious debate, and there is no reason for making a sexist remark,'' she observed.

''I fail to understand why people keep making remarks on women,' she said.

Somewhat taken aback by the CPM leader's remark, Mr Jethmalani, however, defended his observation, saying it was not a sexist remark.

''I like women and what is wrong about it. I have all right to talk about them,'' he said.

A gentle admonition by the Chair, however, drew the curtain on the episode.

Later, after finishing his statement, Mr Jethmalani went to the bench where Ms Karat was sitting and the two were seen discussing something animatedly.

Earlier, during his submission, the noted criminal lawyer said it was wrong on the part of a lawyer to refuse to plead for Afzal Guru, because a death row convict has every right to seek legal help.

''I am not defending Afzal, but it is the professional duty of a lawyer to defend him if he is approached by the convict. The idea is to uphold the majesty of the legal system,'' he contended.

Mr Jethmalani also criticised the governments of Mr V P Singh and Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee for compromising with terrorists in the Rubaiyya kidnapping and AI plane hijacking episodes.

''Compromising with terrorists is always suicidal, it will lead to the flourishing of terrorsm,'' he said.

On the Jammu and Kashmir issue, he berated the government for fighting shy of taking it to the Security Council. ''The government should discard its allergy to the UN body and ask it to station its forces on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).'' Mr Jethmalani also referred to India's opposition to the International Criminal Court, when it was being set up. ''The court has now become functional, and it has taken up several important cases related to terrorism.'' He also cautioned the government against falling into the trap of a shrill demand for toughening anti-terror legislation.

''TADA and POTA did not prevent terror; on the contrary these legislation were used against the minority all along. Wjat we need is a system of criminal justice which is swift and sure and make effective its deterrent aspects.'' UNI SKS Vd GC1707