The family members expressed shock over Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s remarks that they were being provoked by the BJP over the Afzal row.
NEW DELHI: Five years after the terrorist attack on Parliament, families of security persons who died on December 13 protecting the temple of Indian democracy, returned the gallantry medals to the Rashtrapati Bhavan as a mark of their protest over the delay in executing Mohd Afzal. The move rocked proceedings of the Parliament on Wednesday. Embarrassed by the act, the government said it will talk to the protesting kin and urge them “not to play pawns in the hands of a political party” to take the medals back.
The family members expressed shock over Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s remarks that they were being provoked by the BJP over the Afzal row.
“We didn’t order the execution of Afzal. It’s the court that has ordered it. But the vile politics over his punishment, which is being delayed, has led us to return the medals,”
Ganga Devi, widow of sub-inspector Nanak Chand, said. Nine security personnel were killed in the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.
While returning the medals, relatives of the slain security personnel said these should be placed in the National Museum. We will take back the medals after Afzal is hanged,” said Jayawati, another widow.
The sudden acrimony rocked proceedings of the Parliament for the second consecutive day. On Wednesday, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for a brief period during the Zero Hour after the BJP-Shiv Sena clamoured for immediate hanging of Parliament attack convict Mohammed Afzal. On Tuesday Lok Sabha saw heated exchanges between BJP and treasury benches. The Opposition members staged a walkout from the House.
Opposition members repeatedly trooped into the well in Rajya Sabha shouting slogans “Afzal ko fansi do (hang Afzal) and Sansad par hamla nahin chalega (attack on Parliament will not be tolerated).” It was countered by Congress, RJD and Left members. The uproar reached a deafning crescendo when Home Minister Shivraj Patil cited cases like Rajiv Gandhi assassination where clemency petitions were kept pending for years.
His statement that in the last ten years, mercy petitions have taken six to seven years before a decision could be taken angered the Opposition. Rejecting Opposition’s stand that the Government was not helping the kin, the Home Minister said financial assistance had already been provided to the kin.
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