BJP demands apology from Home Minister

“Nobody in the country and outside raised any demand for clemency for Afzal on any ground. But the Home Minister wants to justify dillydallying on Afzal’s execution by giving a completely absurd twist to the issue,” stated party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar. He added that if Patil did not apologise, the PM should direct him to do so: “If the Home Minister fails to comply, then sack him.”

The BJP spokesperson also contested Patil’s claim that the Centre had not issued any direction to Rajasthan regarding the opening of detention centres for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, saying that he had “documentary evidence to prove the Home Ministry’s role.”