Bitta condemns Akali Dal, Congress over Bhullar
May 31st, 2011 - 10:30 pm ICT by IANS
Chandigarh, May 31 (IANS) All India Anti-Terrorist Front chairman M.S. Bitta Tuesday condemned Punjab’s ruling Akali Dal and the Congress state unit for demanding clemency for Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, a Khalistani militant facing the gallows.
Bhullar, whose mercy petition was rejected by President Pratibha Patil May 26, is a Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) terrorist. He was sentenced to death for a 1993 car bomb attack that killed 12 people and injured 29, including then Indian Youth Congress chief Bitta.
“I am feeling very disturbed over this attitude of political parties. I have been mentally tortured by the Congress and central intelligence agencies for the last 18 years. I have completely failed to tackle the political terrorism in the country,” Bitta told reporters here Tuesday.
Both the Akali Dal and the Congress in Punjab sought the commuting of Bhullar’’s death sentence to life term.
“If clemency is granted to Bhullar, then the trend will follow in other cases (such as) parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and Mumbai attack accused Kasab. I am feeling very bad and I do not want to be alive any more,” said Bitta.
Convicted in 2001, Bhullar’s mercy petition was pending with the president since January 2003.
Bhullar was the mastermind of a car bomb attack on Bitta Sep 11, 1993.
Bhullar was deported to India from Germany in 1995 and had been lodged in the Tihar Jail here.
He was sentenced to death Aug 25, 2001 and the Supreme Court dismissed his special leave petition Dec 27, 2006.
- SGPC sets up panel to save Bhullar - May 30, 2011
- Akali Dal wants PM to intervene in Bhullar case - May 29, 2011
- BJP not to support Akali Dal on Bhullar clemency - Sep 23, 2011
- 'Save Bhullar' campaign picking up in Punjab - Jun 22, 2011
- Mercy plea of Khalistan terrorist on death row rejected - May 26, 2011
- Sikhs protest at Indian embassy in Berlin to save Bhullar - Jun 20, 2011
- President rejects mercy plea of Khalistan terrorist on death row (Second Lead) - May 27, 2011
- Badal urges PM for clemency to Bhullar - Aug 26, 2011
- Mercy plea of Khalistan terrorist on death row rejected (Lead) - May 26, 2011
- EU opposes death to Bhullar, writes to Chidambaram - Jun 17, 2011
- Amarinder questions Badal's stand on Bhullar clemency - Sep 25, 2011
- Sikh rally at UN for Bhullar's clemency - Jul 26, 2011
- Sikh group raps Badal regime in Bhullar case - Sep 29, 2011
- Delay on Bhullar's mercy plea no cruelty, apex court told - Oct 19, 2011
- Bhullar allowed to amend plea against death penalty - Sep 06, 2011
Tags: akali dal, bhullar, car bomb attack, central intelligence, chandigarh, clemency, convict, death sentence, gallows, intelligence agencies, liberation, mastermind, mercy petition, political parties, political terrorism, president pratibha patil, punjab, sep 11, tihar jail, youth congress