New Delhi: The new Union Law Minister has made an old mistake. When asked about the government's stance on Afzal Guru, Veerappa Moily compared his position to Indian prisoners in Pakistan. A comparison that also landed former home minister Shivraj Patil in trouble.
Patil had compared Afzal to Indian prisoner Sarabjeet Singh last year even though India maintains Singh is a victim of mistaken identity.
"There are, you know, many many people waiting in Pakistan for hanging, since about 18 years, our own Indians. Do you want that all of them should be hanged immediately?" said Moily.
Earlier, then Home Minister Shivraj Patil had said: "The two case are not same but you have to keep in mind when you consider Afzal about who is languishing there."
The BJP wasted no time in slamming the Law Minister. The Opposition has maintained that the UPA is sitting on Afzal's mercy petition as they fear disturbing the minority vote.
Said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy: "We want Afzal hanged. It is wrong to equate a man convicted by the Supreme Court with Indian detainees."
Apart from the BJP, there are others who feel that Moily has not just committed a diplomatic faux, but that he's also compared Afzal to Pakistani prisoners just because he's Muslim. A comparison that perpetuates stereotypes and is unfair.