In Jammu and Kashmir, the present Chief Minister and his predecessors are all advocating the cause of the terrorist Afzal Guru having roots in Pakistan and where youngsters are raising processions/slogans with a mission faithful to Pakistan and where Indian defence forces are always under attack with ill-motivated aims. These conditions viewed with general background of treason and sedition are akin to the failure of constitutional machinery where the affairs of the state are not being carried as per the Constitution. Such activities with questionable credentials are comparable to the conditions read in the spirit of Article 356.
All the sympathisers of Afzal are not only insulting the judiciary but these elements are also criticising that there was no fair trial in the process, whereas people like Gilani are the beneficiary of such a real fair trial in India. Besides such a soft corner for person like Afzal reflects not only a perpetual demoralisation of defence forces and police in the country but this is equally a serious shock to the normal patriotic citizens and the families of the terrorist victims in series of bomb blasts in India. Because according to them any sympathy with such terrorist-killers is an abhorrent justification of the killed family members and a reward to the killer. It is shocking that a person and his group who chose to attack and demolish the sanctum sanctorum of democratic institution, i.e Parliament house pregnant with the sitting Members of Parliament, should attract any soft corners from anyone. Significantly, Afzal himself has never filed any mercy petition so far before the President, while others who may not have any legal locus standi are doing it it for an uncherished cause. Honourable President will protect the interest and integrity of the nation rather than any party/political goals.
Importantly, the doctrines of abolition of death penalty are not at all attractive to the cause of Afzal as there are no trappings of social prejudices whereby crime-causation dominates the infused-motives/ill-motives entitling some sympathy to the capitally punished. In the case at hand, it is the inhumanly brainwashed and indoctrinated terrorist whose sole motive is to spread terrorism and perpetrate mass murders of the innocent people and torture their suffering innocent families without any justification.
Under the prevalent circumstances, the much-talked about ?joint mechanism? on terrorism by our honourable politicians seems to be nothing but a ?sell-out? before the hero of Kargil deceptions, General Musharraf, with known art of duplicity, diplomacy and dodging techniques (under US pressure). He seems to have succeeded in a phenomenon where a thief himself can be offered a seat on the judicial bench to decide the thefts and stealing cases. This also appears to be a surrender before international killers and a salute to their murderous mania/arrogance and also an obvious invitation to such unhealthy unscrupulous elements from across the borders to continue their killing spree by presenting tragedies and tears for the innocents and their families. Even a primary student may easily conclude that the General will outrightly reject Indian evidences as usual under one or the other pretext in which he has a high-class mastery.
Is this continuing process not a treachery to the survivor victims of terrorism and their families all over the country? If Smt Indira Gandhi'skillers could be hanged why not Afzal? No vote-bank politics, please. No coercive blackmailing with any threatened violence. Bharat of Chanakya'sland, which is weeping today, is stressing the long overdue policy of Shathe shathyam samacaret (Tit for Tat) to save national honour and world peace.
(The author can be contacted at WZ-2128, Rani Bagh, Delhi-110034.)
