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| 'Double Game': Omar says one thing, Kamaal another Rustam | | Execution of Guru | |
JAMMU, Feb 10: What is it that the NC top leaders are doing in the wake of the execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru, December 13, 2001 Parliament terror attack convict, in Tihar Jail (Delhi), at 8 am on February 9? NC working president and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is appealing to the people to help him maintain law and order, especially in the militant and separatist-infested Kashmir Valley, and not walk into the trap of vested interests who are likely to arouse communal passions by raking up the hanging issue again and again. He is also telling the people that the Government of India had taken him on board before the execution of Afzal Guru, who in collaboration with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had conspired against India and planned and executed the terror attack on Parliament, which was rightly described by the nation as a carefully planned war on India. He, in addition, is informing the people that his government has taken all precautionary measures to prevent the vested interests from causing trouble in the state and that he has asked the law and order machinery to observe "maximum possible restrain" while dealing with the situation as it emerges in the aftermath of the execution of Guru.
It appears from his statements that he had taken the development as it was and that he was fully prepared to face the situation. In other words, his statements have created an impression that he is in full accord with the Government of India and that he as Chief Minister would discharge his obligations towards the state to the best of his ability and capacity. There was nothing in his statements which could even remotely suggest that he felt cheated or let down, notwithstanding one of his observations: "There is certain degree of anger as a result of this execution". His observation was quite logical. On the other hand, he made it loud and clear when he said that "I understand there are amongst us those that will like to exploit the situation for their personal or political interests" and that "I have instructed and ordered security forces to deal with the situation with the maximum restrain possible".
Had Omar Abdullah been not kept in the loop by the Government of India, he would not have said what he said and not directed and ordered the security forces to tackle the situation as it emerges. In fact, he would have resigned, as he resigned from the BJP-led NDA Government following his "ideological" differences with the BJP. The fact of the matter is that Omar Abdullah's conduct in the aftermath of the execution of Guru is very satisfactory, notwithstanding his controversial views on Jammu & Kashmir, New Delhi, Army, AFSPA, Indian Constitution, and so on. But this is one side of the story, which does appearing positive to an extent.
It is the other part of the story that has caused confusion and made everyone believe that the NC top-ranking leaders are playing a "double game". Take, for example, uncle of Omar Abdullah, Mustafa Kamaal, who is also NC additional general secretary. While Omar Abdullah was making an appeal to the people to maintain calm, Kamaal was spiting venom on India and the Indian Army and threatening India using highly filthy and outrageous language. Talking to Indian Express immediately after the execution of Guru, he, among other things, said: "Many people who have committed much grave crimes and have been awarded death plenty by the Indian courts but are not hanged due to political compulsions…Centre should also award death sentences to those soldiers who have committed crimes in the Valley like Pathribal killings, Kupwara massacre and other killings. Recently (Union Home Minister) Sushil Kumar Shinde said that RSS and VHP workers are also involved in the killing of people. They should also be awarded sentences similar to Guru…"
Not content with what he told Indian Express, he poured more venom on India, the Army and the majority community. Talking to Current News Agency (CAN), he, inter-alia-said: "Execution of one Afzal Guru will produce thousands of Afzal Gurus in Kashmir. It is absurd and foolishness to expect justice from the Government of India. India is doing grave injustice in Kashmir and it will have to pay a price for the same… India is insensitive towards the people of Kashmir and is ruling Kashmir on the basis of military power. Half of India's military force has been deployed in Kashmir to suppress the voice of people. Not speaking of a common Kashmiri, even our Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not taken into confidence and despite his repeated pleas Central Government did what suited to them…Kashmiri people (should) not to expect any justice from the Government of India. By hanging Afzal Guru, the Government of India appeased the Hindu extremist forces and played with the sentiments of people of Kashmir. National Conference, including Omar Abdullah, had requested Central Government to award Afzal life imprisonment because by hanging Afzal, large scale violence may erupt in Valley which they ignored…India is not serious about Kashmir and right from 1947 it has suppressed the sentiments of people. "India will get nothing out of this. Centre always creates trouble for National Conference which pitches for development and peace in Kashmir. Whenever we cooperate with Central Government, they stab us in the back".
How could Omar Abdullah, NC working president, and Mustafa Kamaal, NC additional general secretary, the two important party's faces, speak in two voices? That they spoke differently on the same issue and almost at the same time does create a suspicion that they are working as per a plan. Party addition general secretary cannot take a line different from that of party working president and party president (Farooq Abdullah). Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah have to establish by their words and actions that they consider Mustafa Kamaal's line as anti-party as well as an act of sedition. |
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