Against the backdrop of clemency demands for death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, BJP and SAD on Friday made a strong pitch in the Rajya Sabha for abolition of death penalty by asking Government to bring a legislation.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Naresh Gujral (SAD) ssid the civilised world is gradually abolishing capital punishment with only few countries like China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen and Saudi Arbia still contributing to death penalty.
Terming death penalty as "ultimate denial of human rights", Gujral said India, which is a peace loving country, should not support death penalty.
"I urge Government to bring a legislation to abolish death penalty," he said.
Joining the issue S S Ahluwalia (BJP) also said India, which talks of Manav Dharma, should get rid of the provision of death penalty and urged Government to do it through the legislative route.
Gujaral said that "unsuccessful attempts" were made in the country previously as well to do with death penalty in 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962.
He pointed that the architect of Indian Constitution B R Ambedkar had also preferred abolition of death penalty in his speech at the Constituent Assembly.