BJP decides to keep mum

Three years ago, the BJP had expressed concern at the 8220;unilateral8221; US military action against Iraq. Today, surprisingly, the party kept silent on the execution of Saddam Hussein. The RSS didn8217;t want to comment on the issue either though one of its leaders said the US military action had always been opposed by the Sangh Parivar, but it didn8217;t want to react on an issue of 8220;international nature8221;. BJP leaders said the party believed that opposing Hussein8217;s hanging could dilute its Hindutva message and supporting it could be interpreted as siding with the US. 8220;Therefore, it was a conscious decision to remain silent,8221; said a party leader.

Congress condemned the execution of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, saying it was carried out with 8220;undue haste8221; but hoped the 8220;unfortunate event8221; would not stand in the way of the process of restoring normalcy and reconciliation in Iraq. 8220;The undue haste in execution do not carry any credibility,8221; Janardhan Dwivedi, AICC general secretary and party8217;s media department chief said.

Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh called for stronger condemnation. 8220;It is not a small issue. The PM and even Congress chief Sonia Gandhi should come out and condemn it strongly. If they don8217;t do so, it will not be proper,8221; he said.

LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan condemned the execution in 8220;strongest terms,8221; and described Saddam as a 8220;friend of India.8221;

SP leader Amar Singh said the UPA Government8217;s reaction over the execution of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain was 8220;mild8221;. 8220;The government has forgotten its old friends and become a tool of the US,8221; he said.

Janata DalUnited said the execution would only give a fillip to international terrorism.

Noted Shia cleric and vice-president of AIMPLB Maulana Kalbe Sadiq justified the execution, saying he deserved the punishment for 8220;ordering killing of lakhs of innocent Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, women and children during his barbaric regime8221;.

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8220;The hanging should be seen as a victory for justice,8221; said Shia Personal Law Board president Mirza Mohammad Athar.