Supreme Court verdict important in Afzal Guru case: Munde

PUNE: BJP leader Gopinath Munde lambasted former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for his remarks on the death sentence of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, saying it was important to give effect to the Supreme Court verdict in the case.

He said Afzal Guru's case cannot be compared with other pending mercy petitions, referring to Patil's statement that it was unseemly to single him out and make haste in hanging him when some 35 files were still pending.

Commenting on Patil's statement that the Afzal issue was being "politicised" and there was no bravery in hanging him, Munde said the death sentence to the terrorist mastermind had been pronounced by the country's apex court and not by any political party.

Munde, who was addressing a 'Brahmin Mahasabha' convention here last night, also said that it was a pity that former Union Minister was not able to comprehend the nature of crime for which Afzal was convicted.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena working President Uddhav Thackeray, who was also present at the convention, criticised Patil.

Citing policy adopted by the Britishers, Thackeray said the colonial rulers lost no time in hanging Indian revolutionaries who gave their lives for the country's freedom but in free India those who undermine her sovereignty were being spared despite the apex court's verdict.