AAP, BJP blame each other for convicts hanging delay

Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP have accused each other of causing delay in the hanging of Nirbhaya convicts.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, on Thursday, said the saffron party is solely responsible for the delay in the execution of the convicts in Nirbhaya case, after the saffron party accused the Delhi government of the same.

Speaking to the media, Singh said that the BJP should apologize for their negligence and for accusing the AAP of causing delay.

"BJP is directly responsible for delay in hanging of the culprits. Law and order is completely under the control of the BJP. We didn't take a moment to reject the mercy petition. BJP should apologize for the lies they're peddling," said Singh.

Singh's remark came after BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar blamed Delhi government for the delay in the death penalty execution.

"The Nirbhaya convicts are not hanged because of the delay caused by the AAP government in Delhi. This shows AAP's soft corner for the criminals," Javadekar said. Singh called Javadekar's statement "funny" and "irresponsible".

"Such statements also show insensitivity of the BJP and its leaders," Singh added.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday received a mercy petition of Nirbhaya gangrape convict Mukesh Singh after it was rejected by the Delhi government.

According to MHA sources, the consideration of the plea is under process.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Thursday rejected the mercy plea of Mukesh.

Thereafter, the plea was then forwarded to Lieutenant Governor, who sent it to Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

All four convicts were sentenced to death for raping a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in the national capital on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012.

The victim, who was later given the name Nirbhaya, had succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Singapore where she had been airlifted for medical treatment.