20 February,2014 01:38 PM IST | | Agencies
Law minister Kapil Sibal takes on Narendra Modi, accuses him of having double standards in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case
New Delhi: Minister Kapil Sibal said the assassination of the former Prime Minister was not just an attack on an individual but on Republic of India.
Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal. File pic
He also attacked BJP for practising "double standards" on terror and questioned why the opposition party, which keeps raising the issue of terrorism, is silent on this decision of the AIADMK government.
"I want to ask a specific question to Narendra Modi why are you quiet on this? It's a wrong signal. "It's not just a wrong signal on your behalf. It also sends a wrong signal on behalf of your party...No government and no political party should have double standards when it comes to our fight against terrorists," he told reporters outside Parliament House.
"It is unfortunate that in India, political parties and governments have double standards when it comes to terrorism. While in some places innocents are killed in the name of terrorism through fake encounters, on the other hand, certain political parties do not raise their voice against terrorists, especially those who killed our dear ex-Prime Minsiter," he said in a veiled reference to alleged fake encounter cases in Gujarat.
Union Minister Manish Tewari said it was unfortunate that the Tamil Nadu government behaved in this manner.
"The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was not merely assassination of one individual. It was an attack on the Indian state. The entire decision (of the Tamil Nadu government) is extremely unfortunate.
"When the Supreme Court interpreted that life sentence is sentence for life, the Tamil Nadu government took a decision contrary to what is interpreted in various judgements. I think this itself is very unfortunate," Tewari said.
