By Andalib Akhter, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: The UPA government at centre, particularly the major constituent the Congress party is all set to take a final decision on the execution of Afzal Guru. Afzal Guru has been sentenced to death by the apex court in Parliament attack case, but his clemency application is pending before the President of India.
Though Congress was divided on the issue of Afzal hanging as many top leaders foresee his execution could lead to a law and order problem in Jammu & Kashmir, but the recent Assembly election in the state and huge turnout of voters have emboldened Congress leaders who were of the view of taking a final decision on the issue. Now other UPA allies are also pressurising the government to take a final decision on the issue that are agitating common Indians. In a recent cabinet meeting NCP leader and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is believed to have asked his cabinet colleagues as “what to say when people asked them about Afzal Guru?”
Politically too Congress party wants to snatch BJP’s major political plank before the general elections by taking a final decision on Afzal fate. BJP and other communal parties in every meeting raise the issue of Afzal execution, much to the embarrassment of UPA government.
Officially, the Congress and the Central Government are long holding the view that before any decision on Afzal Guru is taken, 28 other cases are to be decided. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s killer Murugun case is also in that list. Sources said that while taking the case of Afzal before the President, the government might take some other cases too for assent from President, giving impression that not only Kashmiri but criminals in the other part of the country too would face same fate.
A highly placed source said that former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had almost made up his mind that after the J&K polls Afzal Guru will be executed.
Link:
http://justiceforafzalguru.org/