news details |
|
|
| Guru important than Kasab in Kashmir | | |
early times report
Srinagar, Nov22; Unusual of them, most rather all the political leaders in Kashmir today declined to comment on hanging of the Mumbai attacks convict Ajmal Amir Kasab and chose to remain silent.
Though senior separatist leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani issued a press statement today in reaction to Union Home Minister's talks offer but the statement was totally silent on Kasab's hanging.
Even the smaller groups and leaders, who would issue statements on every development big or small, too were unusually silent and not a single statement came from any quarter till this report was filed.
Chairman Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and all other separatists chose to remain tightlipped over the hanging of Kasab.
However, what was even more interesting to note was that though the administration was apprehensive of a spontaneous reaction from certain sensitive areas of Sringar city, yet barring a brief but insignificant protest by a handful of youth in Maisuma area, the entire city was normal and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere throughout the day. All shops and business establishments in the capital city, as also in all other parts of Kashmir valley, opened as usual and witnessed brisk business throughout the day.
The volatile areas of Srinagar's Lal Chowk, old city and north Kashmir's Sopore remained calm and peaceful till late afternoon. However, students in large numbers protested on Israeli attack on Gaza strip at Kashmir university. The protesters too declined to comment on Kasab's hanging. In fact businessmen were unequivocal in terming the development (Kasab's hanging) a non-issue for Kashmiris, instead argued that justice was done to a perpetrator of 26/11 Mubai attacks.
Renowned social activists and businessman Shakeel Qalander while talking to Early Times said, " why should we mourn the death of someone who was a dreaded terrorist, justice was done to him". Qalander, however, cautioned about the fallout if Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged. "Guru was not given fair trial and after all he did not participate in firing", said Qalander.
People from different streams and of different age groups were seen on the same page on the issue. " Kasab is different and Guru entirely different, that is why we are indifferent today", said a political science student at Kashmir University, where most of the students talked to Early Times reserved their comments on Kasab, however, Afzal Guru's fate and implications of his hanging weighed heavy on their mind.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was the first to react within two hours of the hanging. "Gotta hand it to the governments at the Centre and in Mumbai for the mature way they handled this. Shows we can still keep a secret if we need to (sic)," wrote Abdullah on social networking site Twitter.
Omar was angry with the Western media describing Kasab as a gunman. "So Hamas are terrorists but Kasab was a "gunman". Well done American media you really call it like it is 'sarcasm' (sic)," wrote Omar.
Independent MLA Abdul Rasheed said, "Right to Live is supreme and should be respected at all costs. That is why we have been constantly appealing for accepting clemency petition of Guru...Kashmiris have a right to know why justice is being delayed in case of fake encounters, custodial killings and other human rights abuses when it comes to Kashmir."
Rashid said people of Kashmir neither liked the deaths of innocents of the 26/11attacks nor will they celebrate the death punishment given to Kasab.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
