EU raised Afzal clemency issue: A P J Abdul Kalam

New Delhi, Apr 29: The European Union (EU) raised the issue of clemency for 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru with President A P J Abdul Kalam when he visited Strasbourg to address the European Parliament on April 25.

This was disclosed to mediapersons by Dr Kalam on board the special Air India aircraft while flying back last evening after his four-day state visit to France and Greece.

Asked whether, as reported in a section of the press, there was any pressure put on India by EU on this issue, the President said, ''There is no question of pressure. They raised the issue and I told them that the law of the land was supreme and it will take its course.'' The request for clemency for Afzal will be processed and the decision will be taken as per the law, he said.

While leaving for Strasbourg he had told mediapersons in reply to a question that the government was seized of the matter and the application was being processed.

He had also said ''there should be a national debate on death penalty.''

UNI