RAKESH SINHA
Afzal Guru, prime accused in the conspiracy to attack the Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001, has been awarded sentenced to death. The trial court, high court and the Supreme Court were all unanimous that the incident fell within the ambit of the rarest of rare cases, deserving the death sentence. The incident was not merely a case of terror but part of a larger conspiracy. Had the terrorists not been thwarted in their mission by the brave security personnel, the physical casualties and political consequences would have been beyond imagination.
That’s why the Supreme Court in its judgment did not mince words and held, “The incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, had shaken the entire nation and the collective conscience of society will only be satisfied if the capital punishment is awarded to the offender.” But Afzal has escaped the gallows so far. And the delay in his execution unravels many critical aspects of politics and civil society in India. There has been a consistent campaign by a section of Indian intelligentsia in defence of Afzal Guru. They can be defined as crusaders. They are closer to the hearts of separatists and their apologists.
Their propaganda and canards against nationalist forces is a given fact. Therefore they feel proud to receive moral and monetary support from foreign countries. Recently, the US government arrested Ghulam Nabi Fai for unleashing an anti-India campaign, using foreign funds and providing patronage to some chosen Indian crusaders. Many of those who shower love and affection for Afzal and Kasab belong to this category.
Some have been exposed while others continue to do what they know the best. Interestingly the pro-Afzal campaign itself is a rarest of rare political campaign in the history of post 9/11 world which has shown an unambiguous determination to end terrorism. The USA and Europe have set up new yardsticks like zero tolerance to thwart terrorism.
Many European nations which include France and Belgium have even banned the burqa considering it as an irritant in internal security. The concern for national security has led some of them to even abandon their beloved multi-culturalism. However the Indian story is altogether different where crusaders love terrorists and show solidarity with the separatists. They take shelter behind human rights to camouflage their anti-national activities. No where in the world is the concept of human rights so frequently used and abused to favour terrorists as in India.
They consider the pro-Afzal campaign a new standard for human rights! Can there be bigger travesty of human rights than this? Nandita Haksar, a Supreme Court lawyer, wrote in Communalism Combat (June 2010) edited by Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand, “Apart from Kashmir, many Muslims also felt that our campaign for the Parliament accused had set new standards for human rights and they saw some hope in the midst of the Islamophobia engulfing our country. The campaign made them feel slightly more secure.” The campaign is based on false propaganda that Afzal was not given a fair trial in the sessions court. They don’t talk of his trial in the high court and its endorsement by the Supreme Court. Does it mean that Indian judicial system is biased? Moreover, do they want to establish that the higher courts are incompetent to correct the ‘unfairness’ of the lower courts?
During the four-year trial, these crusaders tried their best to influence the system of justice. They failed to impress the courts. However, they have been successful in making a conspirator and an anti-national a living symbol of Kashmiriyat and to an extent the ‘security and confidence’ of Indian Muslims. Such developments are ominous for the country’s unity and integrity as well as its internal security. The UPA regime is primarily guilty for such aberrations in our society and politics. The politics of vote banks has made the ruling party overlook even internal security. Courts, investigating agencies and police have all been crippled by this attitude. That is the reason why terrorists consider India a safe haven.
The Indian State can not disguise the shame of its indecisiveness on the pretext of being a democratic state. The mercy petition by Afzal Guru to the President of India needs to be out-rightly rejected. And the crusaders’ words should not entertained that Afzal’s execution will endanger India’s internal security and jeopardize peace in the Valley. The Indian state must act firmly as Afzal represents a medieval ideology and mission.
Any mercy to him will depict India as a coward state before the world community.
(The views expressed by the author are personal)
Courtesy : The Sunday Indian
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