Statement by Shri Arun Jaitley on the hanging of Afzal Guru

ON THE HANGING OF AFZAL GURU, AN ACCUSED IN THE CASE OF TERRORIST ATTACK ON INDIAN PARLIAMENT

Shri Arun Jaitley

On 13^th December 2001, the Indian Parliament was attacked by terrorists.  A number of security staffers of the Parliament and the Police Personnel sacrificed their own lives in order to protect the Parliament and the people who were inside.  India spoke in one voice expressing its’ anguish over the attack.  We all expressed our determination not to allow anybody to think that India is a soft state and vowed that the culprits will be held accountable for their attack.  Our brave security personnel liquidated the attackers on the spot. The other conspirators were investigated, prosecuted and some of them convicted.  But for the timely intervention of the security personnel, no terrorist could enter the building of Parliament.  The game plan of the attackers to liquidate a large section of India’s politicalship was foiled.

We have witnessed a large number of terrorist attacks.  Most of them were planned across the border but to be executed in India.  Some of the targets were carefully chosen. The Indian Parliament, Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, the Akshardham temple, Mumbai city were amongst them.  These targets were symbols of India’s Parliamentary democracy, sovereignty, cultural heritage and economy.  An attack on Indian Parliament was an attack on India.  India, therefore, rightly spoke in one voice to condemn the attack.

India is a society governed by the rule of law.  The investigation by our Police agencies is strictly scrutinized by the courts.  After the prolonged trial, an appeal to the High Court and finally an appeal to the Supreme Court enabled our judicial system to carefully scrutinize the evidence.  In the case of Afzal Guru, all judicial authorities have affirmed his guilt and upheld the death sentence.  His Clemency Petition has been rejected by the President.  For reasons which the Government has been unable to explain the execution was delayed.  But finally the law has taken its own course.  Public opinion has compelled the Government to act and enforce the law.  India must today, as it did on 13^th December 2001 speak in one voice and give a clear message to the world that India is not a soft state and those who attack India, its’ sovereignty and its institutions, will be held accountable. Though belated, Justice has been done.