 "Govt will abide by SC decision on Rajiv Gandhi killers: Sibal")
Law Minister Kapil Sibal has said that the government will abide by the Supreme Court’s decision to commute the death penalty of three men convicted in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, but took a jibe at BJP for not uttering a word on the issue when it had bayed for Afzal Guru’s blood.
“They (BJP) were baying for the blood of Afzal Guru and I am surprised that when it comes to other assassins, they don’t even utter a word. I think the BJP has something to answer for,” he told reporters, questioning the silence of the opposition party over the issue.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam had yesterday commuted the death sentences of Perarivalan, Murugan and Santhan on the grounds that it had taken nearly 11 years to decide on their mercy petitions.
“Those who assassinated Rajiv Gandhi should not be given any relief; that is the position of the Attorney General. Now the court has rendered a decision. We must naturally abide by it. We may or may not agree with it but we must abide by it,” Sibal said.
Guru, who was convicted in Parliament attack case and awarded death sentence, was hanged last year. BJP had raised the issue of “delay” in his hanging, accusing the Centre of being “soft on terror”.
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