Opposition slams govt over stand on Saddam verdict

With Assembly elections approaching in UP, the government's equivocation on the death sentence to Saddam Hussein is proving a handy stick for the Opposition to beat the Congress with.

Congress spokesman Abishek Singhvi today virtually echoed Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement issued on Sunday night that there were doubts about the credibility of the legal process under which Saddam had been tried.

He said there was a question mark on the origin of the court. "In fact, the entire legal process is in the context of the change of regime in Iraq," he said. Singhvi said the verdict of the court should be carefully scrutinised by the appellate process.

But the Samajwadi Party was much more forthright and virtually told the Muslims they should not depend on the Congress to protect them.

"I am unable to comprehend the gender of the statement issued by the government on Saddam Hussein," party secretary Amar Singh said. "There is only one thing clear to us: that the government and party is under pressure from the US and is unable to voice its own policies."

Singh also referred to the Left parties' demand yesterday that India take steps to rescind the Saddam Hussein judgment and added his party's voice in support.

However, the Congress shrank back from supporting such a demand and said the appellate process must address reservations.