BJP calls for Afzal's execution

New Delhi, Jan 12 (UNI) Former BJP President Venkaiah Naidu today demanded immediate execution of Mohammad Afzal, convictedin in the Parliament attack case, after the Supreme Court dismissed his curative petition.

Reacting to the apex court's dismissal of the petition filed by Afzal, Mr Naidu said, ''The government wanted to derive political mileage by delaying the execution in an obvious attempt to pander to the emotions of the minority community. If the government delays the execution any further in the hope of deriving benefits for itself in the coming assembly elections, the UPA coalition would lose the country's sympathy especially after the apex court rejected the appeal of the convict.'' With today's ruling, Afzal has lost the final round of his legal battle for survival.

A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal maintained the death sentence awarded to the petitioner who challenged his conviction and sentence on the ground of having been denied free legal aid.

UNI