Devender Pal Singh Bhullar ruling shows double standards, say J&K parties

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court on Monday commuted the death sentence of 1993 Delhi terror convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar to life imprisonment on the grounds of delay in deciding his mercy petition and because he suffers from a mental illness.

The Supreme Court in a verdict on January 21 had held that inordinate, unexplained and unreasonable delay in deciding the mercy petition and insanity/mental illness/schizophrenia were the circumstances for commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment.

Regional parties of Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference and PDP reacted to the development by saying the verdict showed that Afzal Guru, convicted for the attack on Parliament, was denied justice.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the Bhullar decision was “another example of double-standards displayed vis-à-vis Kashmir”. She said it reopened the wounds of Kashmir.

“Such discriminatory approach about Kashmir needs to be responded forcefully to prevent their repetition in future,” Mufti told a public meeting in Anantnag. “It needs a united and strong response at political level and through democratic institutions.”

Mufti accused ruling NC of “collaborating” in Guru hanging in the most inhuman manner by even denying him a last customary meeting with his family.