Blind eye

“If J&K assembly had passed a resolution similar to the Tamil Nadu one for Afzal Guru would the reaction have been as muted? I think not”: Omar Abdullah through twitter.

That’s a very valid question and I think Mr. Abdullah is correct, Reaction would not have been muted but of a wild political turmoil. But my question is why? BJP’s comment on this was that “This is a sensitive issue and Mr. Abdullah comment on this is unfortunate”. My question is “isn’t Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination a sensitive issue”. What is the difference between attack on parliament and attack on Indian political leader who was PM and was also powerful PM contender at that point of time. Both were the attack on Indian democracy and sovereignty. So why Afzal Guru’s case is different? He is also Indian citizen and has every right which Indian constitution has conferred to every Indian citizen. J&K assembly has every right pass resolution to seek clemency for Afzal Guru who is resident of J&K and they should do it because this is only proper and valid thing to do.

I don’t know what is the extent of complicity of Afzal Guru in parliament attack conspiracy. It upon court to decide and court has given verdict against him. But I believe whatever the extent of his crime, neither he nor any person waiting for their fateful end, deserve this. Afzal Guru’s case was highly politicised for the petty political gain. Though I have complete faith in justice system of my country, but I personally feel that Afzal Guru did not get a fair trial in this extremely politically motivated and prejudiced environment. But I don’t want to get into legal tangle of case of in question whether justice has been delivered or not. My point is that when Tamil Nadu assembly passed the resolution to seek the clemency for 3 convict of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, there were many of us who sympathized with their case. I don’t think Afzal Guru’s case is different; case is being dragged for 10 years. He was awarded death sentence in 2004. He has been waiting for his fate for past 7 years. He was not the direct connivance in the attack on parliament. As an Indian citizen he is fully entitled for sympathy of us Indians. Why should we not seek for his clemency? By executing him we are not going to give a message that we are tough on terrorism, the only message will go out of it that we discriminate, we discriminate on the basis of region, religion and so on... But if we be unite in demand of his clemency and if Govt. Of India do it then a positive message will go, that message will be of reconciliation, humanity and maturity of Indian democracy. Argument can be raised against this that by doing this we are showing our weakness, or going soft on terrorism. But being hard on terrorism means prevent the attack on innocent at any cost not that hang as many people as possible after the attack. That leads to acerbity in society and that’s the divisive action not cohesive, it encourages terrorism more instead of preventing it. I appeal to all Indian and Indian political party to think by rising above the petty politics, put their prejudices behind them, and look at the victim by forgetting his personnel identity by considering him only as a human being. As a citizen of India I appeal to president of India to commute the death sentence for Afzal Guru and also for the three convict of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

At last I want to say that I am fully aware of the pain inflicted on individual and families who is victim of terror attacks. I never know that I could be the next. Everyone wants justice the crime perpetrated on their loved one. But death for death is not justice. It’s the medieval solution and 5000 years history of India shows that we don’t deliver justice in this manner. Terrorism a demon which grows on the blood and more you sacrifice on its altar, more it will grow. Many innocent will perish in this. And we would never like to see an innocent person to be hanged and his/her family to be condemned for their entire life in the process of seeking justice. Think about it.