The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP flays Delhi Govt. for ‘shielding’ Afzal Guru

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Wednesday, Dec 24, 2008
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BJP flays Delhi Govt. for ‘shielding’ Afzal Guru

Staff Reporter

Discussion on Motion of Thanks to the L-G’s address

‘Why Delhi Government has given up the demand for a full Statehood’?
Malhotra demands scrapping of the Bus Rapid Transit corridor

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly V.K. Malhotra on Tuesday said while Sheila Dikshit deserves all the praise for becoming the first woman Chief Minister of the country to have governed in three terms, she would also be remembered in history as one who kept sitting on the file of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru for three years.

Speaking during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s address, Prof Malhotra referred to the present situation arising out of Mumbai terror attacks and said as Defence Minister had recently stated that “all options are open”, it means that even war is possible.

He said it is also the first time that 120 diplomats have been summoned and briefed on how to tell the world about Pakistan’s role.

But, he expressed surprise that while at a time when India is seeking return of its most wanted terrorists, and a resolution has been passed by Parliament on punishing those responsible for the Mumbai attacks, the convict in the Parliament attack case is being shielded by the Delhi Government.

Also, he said, while India is telling Pakistan that “act or we will act”, a Union Minister of the Congress has questioned the martyrdom of a senior Mumbai police office just the way party leaders in Delhi had raised questions and held protests following the Batla House encounter in September in which Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma of Delhi police was martyred.

Prof. Malhotra wondered why Delhi Government has given up the demand for a full Statehood which would bring police, land and Delhi Development Authority under it.

Demand for Statehood

“In Tokyo, the city government has full rights,” he said, adding that “if you demand full Statehood, BJP will support you”. The BJP leader also demanded scrapping of the Bus Rapid Transit corridor . Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan pooh-poohed the claims on pollution and said the Central Pollution Control Board has stated that Delhi is now more polluted than in the pre-CNG days.

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