New Delhi:
Afzal Guru was executed at 8 this morning at Delhi's Tihar Jail for his role in the attack on Parliament in 2001. Here are some reactions:
Sushil Kumar Shinde, Home Minister
"Afzal Guru was hanged at 8 am. All legal procedures were followed in the execution. The situation in Kashmir is being closely monitored."
RK Singh, Home Secretary"The law has taken its course. The President rejected Afzal Guru's mercy petition on February 3, after which we followed the jail manual and his hanging took place today. His family and the Jammu and Kashmir government were informed."
Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister
"Better late than never."
Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha
"The government has been unable to explain the delay in execution. But finally the law has taken its course. Public opinion compelled the government to act and enforce the law."
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, BJP leader
"The execution was delayed but is undoubtedly welcome. The people of this country had been waiting for this for long. This is a right step in the fight against terrorism."
Digvijay Singh, Congress general secretary
"The government has acted responsibly; the Opposition should not politicise the issue. Whoever is involved in terrorism deserves the same treatment. I urge the government to conduct trials of terrorism cases in fast-track courts."
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress leader
"The Congress does not want to score political brownie points or play divisive politics."
Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
"I appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to keep calm. We have taken steps to maintain order. Reports that the army has been called in are not true. There are elements who will try to foment sentiments; I appeal to the people not to get carried away. The state government was not involved in signing the execution order."
Naeem Akhtar, PDP spokesperson
"PDP is disappointed at the hanging of Afzal Guru. We had urged that political sensitivities should be taken into considering while taking a decision on his clemency plea. We appeal to the people of Kashmir to exercise restraint."
S A R Geelani, who was acquitted in the Parliament attack case
"The family was not informed. Under the law, Afzal Guru's wife had every right to meet him before the execution. Even the rejection of a mercy petition is subject to judicial review."
Manish Tewari, Information and Broadcasting Minister
"There has been some narrative in the media that the decision (to hang Guru) was motivated by electoral considerations. Nothing is more false. The government's decisions on internal security are devoid of political considerations."
RPN Singh, Minister of State for Home
"This is not a time for politics but calm, restraint and sobriety."
Venkaiah Naidu, BJP leader
"Perhaps the government is acting now against the death convicts as it suffers from policy paralysis. Whatever be the intention, the government has to explain the inordinate delay in the execution."
Kiran Bedi, former IPS officer
"Justice has turned full circle. The Parliament attack was an attack on the entire country."
Amitabh Bachchan, actor
"The country investigated the matter completely, and only then they have acted as per law."
Ram Madhav, RSS spokesperson
"Afzal Guru's hanging is welcome. He had challenged the sovereign power of India by attacking our Parliament. He deserved to be shown that power."
Naveen Jindal, Congress MP
"We must act firmly against terrorists who have no respect for humans."
(With inputs from agencies)