Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: Even before Pranab Mukherjee takes oath as the 13th President of India, Shiv Sena has set before him its wish list, which includes rejecting the mercy petition filed by the Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru.
According to reports, Shiv Sena, in lieu of its unsolicited support to Mukherjee's candidature for presidency, wants him to categorically reject the mercy petition of Afzal Guru, sentenced to death for the terror attack on Parliament in December 2001.
Twelve people were killed in the attack.
Expressing his views in an editorial published in party's mouthpiece, "Saamna", Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said, “We have many expectations from you. We urge you to reject Afzal Guru's mercy plea and hang him. Pranab da you should do this on priority basis and should kick-start your career as President of India. It is an august conduct that we expect from you."
Mukherjee, who is set to take oath on Wednesday, will have to decide on more than 10 mercy petitions from prisoners on death row.
Among those, the decision to reject or accept some petitions will certainly have major political ramifications.
One such petition has been moved by Balwant Singh Rajoana, who is currently in jail in Punjab for the assassination of former chief minister Beant Singh.
Rajoana is hailed as a martyr by many in Punjab and paid lavish tribute by the Sikh clergy.
The Shiv Sena had supported Mukherjee's candidature, going against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its ally in the NDA.
First Published: Monday, July 23, 2012, 09:59