Bitta blames Home, Law Ministries and prev Delhi govt for

All India Anti-Terrorist Front chief M S Bitta today blamed Home Ministry, Law Ministry and the previous Congress government in Delhi for "delays" that will result in commutation of the death sentence of Khalistani terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar.
Bhullar was given death penalty for triggering a bomb blast here in September 1993 that killed nine people and injured 25 others, including Bitta, then Youth Congress President.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court's verdict on commutation of death sentence on grounds of delay in dealing with mercy petitions could lead to Bhullar getting relief.
"I am not disappointed with the judiciary. It is the Delhi government, the Home Ministry and the Law Ministry which suppressed the files allowing the delay in favour of Bhullar. I feel mentally tortured by the Congress party that I once served so dutifully," Bitta said.

The former Youth Congress president "rued" not having raised Bhullar's issue earlier.
"As an activist after bidding farewell to active politics, I dedicated myself to bringing justice for others. I spoke for awarding death sentence to Afzal Guru and others earlier but I never raised Bhullar's issue myself then thinking people will deem it as my vested interest. Now, I am paying the price for it," Bitta said.
The apex court had on March 26, 2002, dismissed Bhullar's appeal against the death sentence awarded by a trial court in August 2001 and upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2002.

Bhullar had later also filed a mercy petition before the President in January 2003. The President, after a lapse of over eight years, dismissed his mercy plea on May 25, 2011.