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Rajya Sabha condemns Pakistan resolution on Afzal

By:  Tupaki Desk   |   15 March 2013 7:37 AM GMT
The Rajya Sabha Friday condemned the Pakistan national assembly's resolution denouncing the execution of Indian parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Raising the issue when the house met at 11, opposition leader Arun Jaitley said the resolution amounted to approving the 2001 terror attack on Indian parliament.

"Parliament in Pakistan passed a resolution (Thursday) condemning the (death) sentence of a person who attacked Indian parliament. This is an official statement of the combined polity of that country," he said.

"Not only is this an interference in the internal affairs of India but this is an approval of the worst terror attack on India," he said.

He said the resolution was an "official stamp of approval" on the attack that almost triggered a war between India and Pakistan.

He said no friendly ties or dialogue with Pakistan was possible now.

"As long as this resolution stands, we should forget discussions with Pakistan. Normalisation of relations is not possible," he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said the whole house agreed with Jaitley's sentiment.

"I don't think there is anyone who differs on this. We all agree such a resolution should not have been passed and we condemn it," Shukla said.

He said the government was ready for a debate on foreign policy.

Afzal Guru, hanged Feb 9 after remaining on death row for about eight years, was found guilty of plotting the attack on parliament Dec 13, 2001.