NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday emphasised that the party was second to none in fighting terrorism, but avoided commenting on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's appeal for presidential pardon to Mohammed Afzal Guru, who has been sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case.

"There is a legal and constitutional procedure [for clemency]. It [death sentence] is a decision of the courts and ultimately, the decision [to pardon or not] has to be taken by the President. The party cannot comment," general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said here.

Counters BJP criticism

Countering the criticism of the BJP, which joined issue with Mr. Azad, Mr. Dwivedi demanded that it comment also on the appeals made by all political parties in Jammu & Kashmir, including its former ally.

He said the Congress "was, is and will be hundred per cent involved in the fight against terrorism.

"We have paid the cost of terrorism more than any other party." On the mercy petition, he said Afzal Guru's case was not the first and many such petitions were pending consideration. The Congress never offered commented on them.

Pardon for Nalini

On the allusion made to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's move on presidential pardon to Nalini, sentenced to death in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Mr. Dwivedi said it was an "incomparable example" of humanitarian consideration and sensitivity.

The Congress president responded to requests from some social organisations, especially since the convict had a girl child whose welfare was at the core of Ms. Gandhi's heart.

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