Patna, Aug 22 (UNI) The BJP today reiterated that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was trying to save Afzal Guru, who had been given death sentence for attacking Parliament, on one pretext or the other.

In a release issued here, spokesman for the state party Binod Narain Jha said the statement of union minister of state for Home Affairs Shakeel Ahmad that mercy petition of Afzal Guru was 28th in chronological order and decision on it would be taken only after the disposal of 27 such petitions, was nothing but ridiculous as the stand of the UPA government would boost the moral of terrorists in the country.

''Decision on the mercy petition of Afzal Guru was not like the government service matter, which is normally taken in accordance with the seniority and precedence'', the BJP leader pointed out and said the Centre should take decision in this regard without any further loss of time.

Mr Jha rubbished the allegation of Shakeel Ahmad about not taking any decision on mercy petition of Murugan who was awarded the death sentence in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

He said the Vajpayee government had taken the decision on mercy petition of killer of Gen A S Vaidya within two days and he was hanged.

''We treat both Murugam and Afzal Guru as terrorists and should be hanged without further loss of time,'' he maintained.

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