COMING down heavily on the comment of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on hanging of Afzal, at his Press Conference on May 24 that “let the law take its own time”, Wing Commander (Retd.) Krishna Lal Nagpal, convener of Sainya Matrishakti, urged the Prime Minister not to repeatedly rub salt on the wounds of the family members of the security personnel killed in the terrorist attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.
In an open letter to Prime Minister on May 27, he said: “Common man is annoyed with the views of the Prime Minister and the soldiers are unhappy as their esteem is hurt. Relatives of the martyr security personnel are deeply pained on the attitude of the government and that is why they earlier returned the medals of bravery given to them, posthumously. But thick skin government is least bothered about their grief, reasons best known to it but concealed from the public.”
Shri Nagpal said while making such an irresponsible comment the Prime Minister did not apply his mind. “Afzal planned to attack the Parliament House to kill all the MPs. But the vigilant soldiers on duty repulsed the attack, killed all the attackers and saved the parliamentarians. But in that process many of them sacrificed their lives. Delhi Trial Court awarded Afzal, death sentence on December 18, 2002. Delhi High Court also confirmed the punishment on December 28, 2003. The Supreme Court rejected the review appeal of Afzal on August 4, 2005. That was the end of the legal battle. Since then petition of Afzal is tossing between Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Government. It has not reached the Supreme Commander of armed forces, the President of India, till date.
“Chief Minister of Delhi Smt Sheila Dikshit recently stated that former Chief Secretary Ramesh Narayanswamy expressed the views that Afzal should not be hanged. Present Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta recommended that orders of the Supreme Court should be obeyed though it is a sensitive matter. Lt. Governor Shri Tejendra Khanna is now looking into the matter. Thus the Delhi CM is confused and is unable to make up her mind. Four years and 10 months down the drain Government is yet to decide.
“The Government, in hangover of the power, may not take any decision or may take some action to impede the speed of the process. But what about the other MPs whose life was saved by the brave soldiers guarding the Parliament, I am sure MPs must be feeling obliged. They should take efforts to expedite the process, which is not visible as on date.
“Now there are media reports that Ajzal will be shifted from Tihar jail of Delhi to Kashmir. It gives the indication that Smt Sheila Dikshit, Government of Umar Abdullah, Smt Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh are planning to save Afzal. It appears some Rubaiya type drama may be played. Can the government control the rage of the public that will arise after such a move, especially, when they are annoying the armed and para-military forces?
“Respected PM Sir, the day the soldiers start working as per the rules and regulations only, the security of the borders and the sovereignity of the country will be at perils. During Indo-Pak war from December 3 to 16, 1971, I had the privilege to command a SAM-II (Surface to Air Missile) 70 squadron at Kolkata. On December 7, 1971, the Air officer Incharge Eastern Command Air Marshal Dewan declared that our forces have destroyed the entire Air Power of the enemy in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Soon after hearing the news, team of 156 officers and Airmen of Air Force men in blues, started preparing the squadron to move on wheels to northern sector of war. Ready to destroy the enemy and if need be to lay down their lives. This was not as per the law but as per the junoon to fight and win for the country, ever ready to lay dawn our lives for the mother land. Therefore, you should kindly get this sensitive issue settle as the earliest,” the letter said.
(FOC)
