‘Reject Afzal’s mercy plea’
Congratulating President-elect Pranab Mukherjee, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday urged him to reject the mercy plea filed by 2001 Parliament attack death row convict Afzal Guru.
“Start your tenure as the President with the sacred deed of rejecting the mercy petition of Afzal Guru, who was involved in the terrorist strike on Parliament and create history,” Mr Thackeray said.
The Shiv Sena had voted in favour of Mr Mukherjee, who was the UPA nominee, even though alliance partner BJP had supported P.A. Sangma.
“We have a lot of expectations from Mr Mukherjee. In fact, we demand that he first hang Afzal Guru. Such terrorists who attack the sovereignty of the country should not be allowed to stay alive,” Mr Thackeray said.
Responding to Mr Thackeray, Mr Mukherjee said he can’t comment on the Afzal clemency plea. “President’s action is to be done on the basis of advice which he or she gets from the council of ministers,” he said, adding, “Therefore, these are the matters on which nobody will hear from me at any time under what circumstances I am taking the decision. Decisions may be known to the individual but the process of decision-making should remain secret (sic).”
On the same day, Mr Thackeray also said that Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s post may be in “jeopardy”.
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