Punish guilty in parliament attack case: BJP

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday attacked the government for the delay in punishing the guilty in the 2001 parliament terror attack, asking why the government was quiet on the issue.

“The country wants to know about those responsible for the parliament attack. The government should punish them,” Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said at a memorial service for the nine people, including eight security personnel, who were killed in the Dec 13, 2001 attack.

She said the attackers have been convicted and their sentences upheld by the Supreme Court.

“We are paying tributes to those killed in the attack while the guilty are yet to be punished. It just looks like a formality,” she said.

On Dec 13, 2001, five heavily armed gunmen stormed the Indian parliament and opened indiscriminate fire, killing nine people instantly.

The victims included five Delhi Police personnel, a woman Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper, two parliament watch and ward staff and a gardener. A journalist who was injured died later. All five terrorists were shot dead.

A year later, four accused, including Afzal Guru, who were arrested for the attack, were found guilty after a trial.

Guru, who is said to be a Jaish-e-Mohammed militant, was the only accused to be awarded the death penalty. The sentence has been stayed as his mercy petition is pending.