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Prez hasn't yet decided on Afzal Guru's mercy plea: PC

September 30, 2011 19:38 IST
Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said no decision has been taken by President Pratibha Patil on Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru's petition seeking commutation of death sentence.

"The president's decision (on his mercy plea) is not made. So there is no scope for discussion," he told reporters. He was replying to a question about a resolution listed by an independent member of Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir seeking clemency for Guru.

The resolution was stalled in the Assembly on September 28 after pandemonium broke out leading to adjournment of the House without any business being transacted.

The private member's resolution, submitted by Sheikh Abdul Rashid, lapsed and cannot come up in the ongoing nine-day Assembly session which ends on Tuesday.

When asked to comment on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent comment that Guru case will lead to fresh round of militancy in the state, Chidambaram reiterated, "No decision yet on Afzal Guru's mercy petition."

The issue holds prominence as the chief minister has recently tweeted about Tamil Nadu Assembly passing a resolution for convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Guru has been sentenced to death for his involvement in 2001 Parliament attack, which killed 13 people and injured many others.

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