SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has reaffirmed the importance of truth and legal due process by addressing recent statements made in the Rajya Sabha regarding the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
In a strong response, Chidambaram clarified that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks suggesting a delay in Guru’s execution during Chidambaram’s tenure were inaccurate. “The statement is a mixture of insinuation, lie, and distortion,” he said, as per Indian Express report.
Chidambaram outlined the correct timeline, noting that Guru’s mercy petition was submitted in October 2006 and remained under consideration until it was ultimately rejected in February 2013. Guru was executed days later, on February 9, 2013.
Chidambaram highlighted that during his term as Home Minister (December 2008 to July 2012), the petition was pending before the President, a period when by law, no execution can take place. “The law is clear that a death sentence cannot be carried out until the mercy petition is decided,” he said.
His statement reinforces the significance of adhering to constitutional and legal procedures, setting an example of responsible governance and transparent leadership.
