New Delhi, Feb 10: Following were the reactions of political leaders and celebrities on Afzal Guru's hanging on Saturday morning:Congress leader Digvijay Singh: "Political parties must not politize the issue of delay in execution. BJP itself had compromised with terrorists in the Kandahar plane hijack in 1999. Has the BJP not compromised with terrorists? After the hijack of Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar, who released the dreaded terrorists?"Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi: "The law has taken its course. The Parliament attack convict has been hanged." Delh chief minister Sheila Dikshit: "The law of the country has taken its course." Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep: "Justice has been done."Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari: " Decision to hang Guru was not based on political considerations."BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy: " Though delayed, we still feel that the hanging of Afzal Guru was a right action. This action is delayed. But undoubtedly it is a welcome action. BJP leader Arun Jaitley: "Public opinion has compelled the government to act and enforce the law....Though belated, justice has been done." BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said: " President deserved praise for rejecting the mercy petition. The President's action is a clear signal that terrorists have no place in the country."Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi tweet: "Better late than never."CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury : "I think, the law of the land with all its provisions has finally been completed as far as the Afzal Guru case and the attack on the Indian Parliament is concerned. The issue which had been lingering for the past 11 years has finally completed its its due course."NCP leader Praful Patel: "There has been some delay but the government is bound to follow the law strictly and complete all the formalities before hanging."Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan: "I have seen the attack on Parliament very closely. Justice has been done to the security personnel who laid down their lives, and to their family members."Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut: "The government showed courage in hanging Guru."Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar: "It (execution) had to happen one day but was delayed. In the end, justice has prevailed and Afzal Guru has been hanged." PDP president Mehbooba Mufti :" While the hanging should not have been carried out, the return of Afzal's body was the least the government could do to show its concern for humanitarian values."CPI National Secretary D. Raja: "Law has taken its course. BJP, Congress are politicizing the issue to gain mileage. It is condemnable."Former Himachal Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal: "The decision came late and only severe punishment can deter terrorists."Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh: "People of Punjab and the Punjab Congress welcome the hanging, which should send a message loud and clear to everyone that such acts of assault on the country will be deemed as acts of war and dealt with accordingly."Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, Diwan of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti shrine, Ajmer: "This is a very good decision but should have been taken earlier. It was necessary to send a message across the world that India is tough against terrorism."People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) statement: "The tearing hurry with which Afzal Guru was hanged, accompanied by the flouting of all established norms by not giving his family their legal right to meet him before taking him to the gallows, indicates that there were political considerations behind taking this step. Starting with Kasab, now with Afzal Guru, the country is going to witness a spate of executions. We give a call to the nation to break this spiral of executions." Actor Amitabh Bachchan : "We all should follow the law. Whatever India has done, has been done within the ambit of the law. Whoever is guilty, even if it is me...We all should abide by the law of the country. The country has fully investigated this (case). We salute the law of the land."
Updated on: February 10, 2013 7:08 IST
