New Delhi:
Days after Yakub Memon was hanged in Nagpur Jail, politicians in Kashmir valley are asking for the return of the mortal remains of Afzal Guru.
While the main opposition party in the state – National Conference – has said that justice cannot have different “interpretations” for “different people,” the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has asked that the government of India should return the mortal remains of the Guru on a “humanitarian” basis.
This is not for the first time when the political leaders in the state have demanded that the mortal remains of Afzal Guru should be returned. Guru, a resident of North Kashmir’s Baramulla town was hanged inside Tihar Jail in February, 2013 for his role in the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001. The family members of Guru had said that they were not informed about the execution and also the family was not allowed to meet for the last time.
National Conference Chief Spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah said in a statement said the “glaring double standards between Yakub Memon’s and Afzal Guru’s case highlighted the perception of discrimination among the people of Kashmir.”
“The party would continue to raise the demand of the return of Afzal Guru’s mortal remains and would exhaust all possible options to pursue this cause of justice,” said Syed.
Mehboob Beig, spokesperson for the PDP said the government of India should return the mortal remains to his family members and it would be a good gesture. “I don’t think there should be any problem to return the remains now. It will be a good gesture by the union government if they take this step,” he said.
Independent legislator engineer Rashid said that by denying the mortal remains, the government of India has proved that J&K is a different state.
