TNI Bureau: The nation celebrated with joy and relief when 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab was hanged to death at 7:30 AM on November 21 at Pune’s Yerawada Jail. It was a fitting tribute to the martyrs five days before the 4th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks. However, another question still remains – when Afzal Guru will be hanged?
Kasab and his colleagues had waged a war against Mumbai by holding the city to ransom for more than two days. All were gunned down, but Kasab, who had to gone through a series of trials. Kasab’s death warrant was signed soon after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition.
If the President can reject the mercy petition of Ajmal Kasab without wasting time, why there is a delay in doing the same in case of Afzal Guru, the key accused in 2001 Parliament Attack case? If Kasab had waged a war on Mumbai, Afzal Guru had felicitated attacks on The Parliament – India’s pride and dignity. The government can expedite the process to get his death warrant issued if it shows willingness and urgency.
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The unity and determination we showed during Kasab’s capture, trial and execution, should act as a precedent in all other future terror cases, including Afzal Guru. He does not deserve mercy just because he hails from Kashmir. Guru’s crime is no less, as he conspired despite being the fact that he is an Indian citizen.
Hopefully, the government will rise to the occasion and show utmost urgency in having the President of India reject the mercy petition of Afzal Guru. Nation should come first, not religion of region. We must shed our political interests when the nation’s pride is at stake. If we believe the latest reports, President Pranab Mukherjee has forwarded the mercy petitions of 12 people, including that of Afzal Guru to the Home Ministry to get the final opinion.