'Hang Afzal', Shiv Sena MPs tell President Kalam

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) The address of President A P J Abdul Kalam to the Joint Session of Parliament today was disrupted by Shiv Sena MPs who demanded hanging of Mohammad Afzal, sentenced to death by the Supreme Court in the December 2002 Parliament Attack case.

As the President started reading out 43rd paragraph concerning law and order and internal security in north-east, Jammu and Kashmir and Naxal-affected regions, the Shiv Sena MPs got up in their seats and vociferously demanded ''Afzal desh drohi hai usko phasi diijiye'' (Traitor Afzal should be hanged).

Dr Kalam, who seemed to be deterred by the interruption, however read out his address even as the MPs persisted with their shouting till the paragraph was completed. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi stood up in support of rest of his party MPs but did not indulge in shouting. The BJP members whose party has demanded hanging of Afzal, however, chose to remain silent.

The BJP MPs chose to vent their views with a derisive laughter when the President read out the government's desire to create external peace and stability in the region.

Ruling party benches, however, countered the Shiv Sena attack by thumping their desks when Dr Kalam spoke of healing touch and ensuring that all agencies respect human rights even in most trying circumstances.

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat read out the opening and the last portions of the text of the President's address in Hindi before the House concluded the joint sitting with the National Anthem.

UNI