Political parties across the spectrum on Saturday welcomed the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, asserting “law has taken its course”.
However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned the “inordinate delay” in carrying out the death sentence, alleging that political considerations of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had held up the decision. The Centre was quick to reject such suggestions with information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari saying: “The government decisions on internal security are devoid of political considerations.”
The Congress party said that with this hanging, the country had sent out a message of “zero tolerance” against terrorism. While the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh welcomed the decision, the Shiv Sena in Mumbai lauded President Pranab Mukherjee for taking the “tough stand” against terror.
The hanging sparked off protests in New Delhi by human rights activists and also in Kashmir, where curfew was clamped on Saturday. The Centre was perceptibly edgy and People's Union for Democratic Rights and People's Union for Civil Liberties activists, who protested at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, were detained and then released. The Kashmir valley remained tense as this was one of the few instances wherein a Kasmiri was hanged for waging war against the state. Security agencies thwarted any signs of protests even as attempts were made to break curfew in Sopore (the hometown of Guru) and Baramulla.
Most political analysts say this will be a shot in the arm of UPA as the coalition shifts into electoral mode for 2014. The execution will help the government answer criticism that it was soft on terror, they add. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s recent remarks accusing BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of fostering “Hindu terror” had also brought the government under attack from several quarters.
The long-pending hanging of Guru, (he was due to be hanged in 2006 but was stayed), crucially comes at the fag end of the second term of UPA, which needs an image boost before going into polls in several states culminating in the general elections.
Political analysts also point out that this hanging has robbed BJP of an issue to attack UPA. While welcoming the decision, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad asked: “Why this sort of delay in spite of overpowering desire of the people of the country that those who are accused of such a heinous offence ought to be given the capital punishment as affirmed by the highest court of the land. This question would remain important and an answer would have to be found out.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Sitaram Yechury welcomed the news, saying: "I think, the law of the land with all its provisions has finally been completed as far as the Afzal Guru case and the attack on the Indian Parliament is concerned.”
