`NO CLEMENCY': Family members of security personnel killed in the attack on Parliament at a press conference organised by the All-India Anti Terrorist Front led by M.S. Bitta (not in the picture) in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

NEW DELHI: Families of security personnel who were killed in the 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament on Friday threatened to return the bravery medals conferred on their kin if the Government does not reject clemency pleas for Mohammad Afzal, who has been sentenced to death in the case.

Addressing a press conference called here by the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF), they charged the Government with dilly-dallying and said they would return the medals to President A.P J. Abdul Kalam if a final decision was not taken by December 13. It was on December 13 in 2001 that Parliament was attacked.

The family members asked why politicians and other vested interests were opposing the sentence when the Supreme Court awarded it after a fair trial.

The clemency plea was an insult to the martyrs, who laid their lives protecting the temple of democracy — Parliament. Had they not fought the terrorists, many top leaders would have been killed, the family members said.

Jayawati, widow of Delhi police head constable Bijender Singh, said: "We had not demanded the death sentence for Afzal. He was proved guilty and was sentenced by the court. Now, by demanding clemency for Afzal, politicians are undermining the court. And by accepting the mercy petition, the Government has not only insulted the martyred security personnel and civilians killed in the attack but also cheated us."

Sardar Singh, who lost his head constable-son Om Prakash, said, "By granting clemency to Afzal, the Government would do no favour to the country as the gesture would encourage terrorists and give a fillip to terrorism."

AIATF chairman M.S. Bitta said his organisation, along with the family members of the martyred security personnel, would continue to oppose the clemency pleas.

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