While the Congress tried to gain some political mileage out of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab’s execution on Wednesday, the BJP played down the event. Not only had the execution come late, but the government had also failed to hang 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru due to vote bank politics, the mainline opposition party charged.
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari argued that though the government hanged Kasab, it was shying away from Guru’s execution. “His crime is more serious. But vote bank politics is the reason to not hang him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, “All police officers and personnel who lost their lives in the battle against terrorists have today been served justice.” Apparently, none of his cabinet colleagues knew about the decision. Even UPA chief Sonia Gandhi was kept out of the loop as it was routine departmental work, he added.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid nudged Pakistan to follow up the issue saying, “We have allowed the rule of law to prevail here. Similarly, we hope and expect that rule of law will prevail in Pakistan.” Gujarat CM Narendra Modi tweeted, “What about Afzal Guru, who attacked Parliament, our temple of democracy, in 2001? That offence predates Kasab’s heinous act by many years.”