News East-West
NEW DELHI: Reacting to Guru’s execution, Gujarat chief minister, the mascot of Hindutva forces, tweeted, “Der aaye, durust aaye!’’
It is believed the UPA government was forced to take this decision as the Gujarat chief minister carves out a bigger role for himself at the national level before the 2014 parliament elections.
“In the end, justice has prevailed and Afzal Guru has been hanged,” said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.
Bahajan Samaj leader Mayawati said, “I support the decision of the central government to give its nod for the hanging of Afzal Guru who was the key accused in the attack on Indian Parliament a few years ago.
“I would like to advise the central government to rise above considerations of caste, creed or religion in matters that concern the national security.
“I hope that in the future, the Centre will be bold enough to take prompt action against those involved in terrorist activities and not get guided by extraneous considerations of caste or religion before taking action against them.’’
Janata Party president Subramaniam Swami tweeted, “I informed MMS (Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) that I will move in the Supreme Court a Criminal Contempt Case against him if Afzal Guru is not hanged by Feb 15.’’
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan said, “Everyone should abide by the law and the guilty should be punished. I respect the law and I’m glad justice has been done. The guilty has been punished according to the law. The justice has been done after a thorough investigation. Whoever is found guilty, even if it’s me, should be punished.”
Yoga guru Ramdev said, “Though the government has taken the decision very late, but I welcome his hanging and demand that the government take a final call regarding all the mercy petitions of the terrorists and rapists. Even I think that except any extraordinary case, the government should scrap the provision of mercy petitions.”
Ajmer Durgah head Zainul Abedin Ali Khan also welcomed the hanging of Afzal Guru.
“This is a very good decision but should have been taken earlier. It was necessary to send a message across the world that India is tough against terrorism,” said Zainul Abedin Ali Khan who is the Diwan of Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti’s shrine in Ajmer.
He said India should send a strong message that it has zero tolerance for terrorism.
