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| Anger in Kashmir over Guru's execution on expected lines | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 9: When Afzal Guru, main convict in the 2001 terrorist strike on Indian Parliament in New Delhi, in which 15 people were killed and 20 wounded, was hanged to death today which was expected. Equally expected was the mixed reaction in the country. It was expected that parts of Jammu and Kashmir would witness violence, tension and anger because Guru was a citizen of Kashmir.
Well those who mourn the hanging of Guru need not blame any political party because the death sentence had been awarded by the court in 2004. And for all these over eight years the Government continued to dither on the issue because execution of Guru could trigger anger and violence in Kashmir, where any delicate issue like execution of Guru type activist of an extremist organisation could result in bigger fluidity in the security situation.
It was expected that the police and paramilitary forces would be deployed in full strength in various parts of the Kashmir valley to prevent protesters from destabilising peace and from kicking up violence. As part of the preventive measures Section 144 Crpc was imposed in various belts of the Kashmir valley.
It was after a long time that a rabble-rouser like Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, who derives his importance as leader of NC from being brother of Dr Farooq Abdullah and uncle of Omar Abdullah, gave a well guarded comment of Guru's hanging. He said that since the Supreme Court had confirmed the death sentence to Guru one could not do much. He said the NC has demanded that the death sentence be converted into life imprisonment.
Kamaal is right when he said that Guru's execution may not end terrorist-related activities and violence. He has suggested that India and Pakistan need to resolve all the bilateral problem which have been the root cause of conflict between the two sides. As long as conflict between the two sides continued militancy would not end.
Well if those, who have been in favour of life imprisonment for Guru, criticise the BJP for supporting Guru's execution they should not forget that Congress leadership too has cast its dice in favour of his hanging. The AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, is on record to have said that the Congress favours hanging of Guru.
Again it was expected from Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, who said "Der Aaayay Durust Aayay" (better late than never) because the Sangh Parivaar has been in favour of early implementation of the court verdict.
Well those, who have not relished Guru's hanging, blame the Indian President and the Central Government for having turned down Guru's mercy petition. In support of their contention they say that when the President of India could sit over 11 mercy petitions why he lost no time in rejecting to mercy petition of Guru. Those who say so forget that after having been held guilty of masterminding the attack on Parliament Guru's crime cannot be equated with a murderer.
Already political leaders in the country have described attack on the Parliament building an attack on India's democratic traditions and practices.
Well execution of Maqbool Bhat, founder chief of the JKLF, hanging of Ajmal Kasab and now the execution of Afzal Guru could be treated as a warning from New Delhi to those aiding terror in the country.
One does hope that besides expressing anger and grief Guru's well wishers in Kashmir may avoid derailing peace and law and order. |
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