Afzal Guru.Photo: IBNLive
The home ministry has processed Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s mercy petition and is ready to put up the file for minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s formal recommendation within the next fortnight.
The move comes as Congress leader Digvijaya Singh joined the BJP-led chorus to hang Guru, who this week completes 11 years in jail, 10 of them as a death row convict. “I am in favour of the execution of capital punishment to Afzal Guru,” PTI quoted Digvijaya as saying.
The BJP that has been campaigning for Guru’s hanging kept up the pressure on the government.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the mercy petition should be rejected to “put a balm on the wounds of the people”.
President Pranab Mukherjee had returned about seven mercy petitions including Guru’s file to the home ministry to seek Shinde’s views afresh.
Chidambaram had recommended rejection of Guru’s mercy plea.Shinde — also the leader of the House in the Lok Sabha — has made it clear that he hasn’t had time to study Guru’s file due to his preoccupation with Parliament.
Guru was arrested within days of the December 13, 2001, attack and was convicted.
He and his wife filed mercy petitions to the President days ahead of being sent to the gallows in late 2006.
from
IANS
Andhra to seek revision of SC order on Babli
An all-party meeting in Hyderabad decided that AP government will seek review/clarification from the SC on its orders about the Babli project.
from IANS
Gangrape: Court says no to lie detector test
A fast track Delhi court hearing the December 16, 2012, gang-rape case on Monday dismissed the pleas of two accused seeking permission to undergo lie detector tests and also to subject the victim's male friend to a similar test.
from in.com
Newsmaker of the day: Phaneesh Murthy
An ugly sex scandal has made Phaneesh Murthy's employers show him the door yet again. Can the honcho bounce back like he did in 2003? Only time will tell.
from
IBNLive
Slide with Gandhi's blood to be auctioned
A large collection of Mahatma Gandhi's memorabilia will go under the hammer on Tuesday in London.
from
PTI
Plea to withdraw complaint against Tharoor rejected
Plea to withdraw complaint in the National Anthem case against Tharoor was dismissed.
from
IANS
Delhi: Neighbours kidnap, gangrape girl
A 17-year-old girl was kidnapped and gang-raped in Delhi by three people, including two neighbours, after giving her sedatives, police said on Monday.
from
IANS
US: Powerful tornado slams Oklahoma City
At least 51 people, including seven children at an elementary school, were killed as a massive tornado slammed Oklahoma City in south central US leaving widespread destruction in its wake.
