Former Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan on Thursday demanded to know why Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has still not taken a decision on the mercy petition of Parliament attack case accused Afzal Guru, nearly five years after it was sent to her by the Union Home Ministry.
Raising the matter under Rule 280, Dr. Vardhan said two years ago too the BJP had raised the issue in the Assembly. “The mercy appeal has been lying with the Delhi Government for the last four to five years for its comments. And as per a RTI reply received by us on December 30, 2009, the file is still pending with the Government.”
He said the Government had also replied to an RTI query that no time limit had been framed for the file to be cleared by it. “If the Chief Minister wants to give mercy to the accused, so be it. But there should not be such a long delay in taking a decision,” Dr. Vardhan added.
Leader of Opposition V. K. Malhotra too got up saying “Does this mean that the file on such an important issue can be kept pending indefinitely?” He said Delhi was on the terror radar and even the Prime Minister had said so and therefore the moot question is “whether we should be shielding terrorists”.
However, despite repeated requests by the BJP leaders, no reply was forthcoming from the Treasury benches.
Later Prof. Malhotra said the Chief Minister should have given a statement on the important issue.
