The Hindu : National : Did not get papers on Afzal Guru plea: Kalam

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Saturday, Jul 28, 2007
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Did not get papers on Afzal Guru plea: Kalam

NEW DELHI: The former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has sought to dismiss criticism over his assent from abroad to the controversial decision to impose President’s rule in Bihar in 2005, saying he has “no regrets.”

He also answered critics over the delay in deciding on the mercy plea of Mohammed Afzal Guru, facing a death sentence for his role in the terror attack on Parliament, contending he had not received any papers from the government.

Mr. Kalam, during an interview to the India Today magazine, was asked about the decision to dissolve the Bihar Assembly as something he could have acted differently on. “I have no regrets. At that time, I was in Russia and I t ook the decision there... I had detailed discussions with the Prime Minister [Manmohan Singh] on the issue and whatever other information I needed was electronically transmitted to me. Based on that, I took the decision,” he said. Mr. Kalam went on to explain that he asked “certain questions and the Prime Minister discussed it with me twice.”

The 75-year-old missile scientist justified his decision to return the Office of Profit Bill to Parliament. “I had to return it to Parliament for the first time. Naturally, they had to debate and discuss it in Parliament. It had created the necessary impact.”

While asking Parliament to reconsider the bill, Mr. Kalam had wanted both Houses to look into the legal propriety of giving effect to it retrospectively. He wanted criteria to be evolved that would be just, fair and reasonable.

“Regarding Afzal Guru, I have not received any papers from the Ministry concerned so far,” Mr. Kalam said while responding to a question on requests for clemency for persons facing the death penalty, including Guru, which had been pending with him. Mr. Kalam had sent Guru’s mercy plea to the Home Ministry for its views.

He went on to say that if the papers had come to him, “I would have processed them for their worth.”

The “people’s President” was non-committal on whether he would accept the Prime Minister’s post if, at some point, there was a need for a consensus candidate.

“This is a juicy question for you. But it looks hypothetical to me. My plate is already full...,” he said, referring to his decision to teach in five institutions. On the country getting its first woman President, he said: “It is indeed good news.” — PTI

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