Date:31/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/31/stories/2006123103550800.htm

National

India's reaction insufficient: Natwar

K. Balchand

PATNA: The former External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, on Saturday condemned the hanging of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, and expressed dissatisfaction over the Ministry of External Affairs' reaction.

Mr. Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the State, told presspersons that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee should strongly condemn the hanging. By doing so, the leaders would give the impression that India pursued an independent foreign policy.

The execution was an international issue and not one that affected Islamic countries alone. It would have an impact on the non-aligned and European countries, China, Russia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It would not only give rise to resentment among the Muslims of the world but also give a fillip to terrorism with long-term repercussions.

Mr. Hussein should have been given life imprisonment and spared capital punishment.

PTI reports:

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday strongly condemned the execution of Mr. Hussein, saying it was ``unfortunate.''

He said, ``He should not have been executed. It is unfortunate.'' he said, adding that Mr. Hussein, instead, should have been sentenced to life.

No link, says Minister

New Delhi Special Correspondent writes:

In New Delhi, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma on Saturday declined to link the execution of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to the relations with the United States.

"I don't think, you can link one issue to another. As far as closeness [with the U.S.] is concerned, yes, we are engaged with the U.S. as with other countries,'' he said.

The Government had never been soft on the Iraq issue and had conveyed its position "very clearly'' to other countries, he pointed out.