The Congress party today hit out at the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to score “political mileage” on the Afzal Guru hanging by ascribing a political motive to it.
BJP had questioned the timing of the execution, and alleged the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had the 2014 polls in mind. The Congress was also left fumbling when questioned about Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s public criticism of the decision to execute Guru. BJP has, in turn, attacked Abdullah for his remarks.
The J&K government is a coalition government of the National Conference and the Congress party, and the state chief minister’s statements have embarrassed the UPA.
Lambasting political parties “like BJP, which want to make political gains by raising issues like the delay in the hangings of Afzal Guru”, he said, “This process was going on for many days. Action was taken as soon as the President rejected the mercy petition. It is a matter of process.”
On why the hanging was delayed for years and done at a time when elections are due next year, he said, “Elections to the Lok Sabha are far away. Still one-and-a- half years left for that. I do not think there is anything in this to do with elections.”
As for Abdullah’s remarks that the new generation in the state will identify with Afzal, he said, “It is unfortunate if it is like that. He (Omar) has expressed an apprehension that some people in the Valley sympathise with Afzal Guru.”
BJP had questioned the timing of the execution, and alleged the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had the 2014 polls in mind. The Congress was also left fumbling when questioned about Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s public criticism of the decision to execute Guru. BJP has, in turn, attacked Abdullah for his remarks.
The J&K government is a coalition government of the National Conference and the Congress party, and the state chief minister’s statements have embarrassed the UPA.
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Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit told reporters, “Finally, justice has been done. People will also understand justice was done.”
Lambasting political parties “like BJP, which want to make political gains by raising issues like the delay in the hangings of Afzal Guru”, he said, “This process was going on for many days. Action was taken as soon as the President rejected the mercy petition. It is a matter of process.”
On why the hanging was delayed for years and done at a time when elections are due next year, he said, “Elections to the Lok Sabha are far away. Still one-and-a- half years left for that. I do not think there is anything in this to do with elections.”
As for Abdullah’s remarks that the new generation in the state will identify with Afzal, he said, “It is unfortunate if it is like that. He (Omar) has expressed an apprehension that some people in the Valley sympathise with Afzal Guru.”