Abhimanyu ?
Congress tries to help Pak terror handlers by creating the facade of “Hindu terror”. Nationwide condemnation.?
AT a time, when Pakistan is beheading Indian soldiers, at a time when infiltration is increasing rapidly, at a time when the LeT patron and 26/11 mastermind, Hafiz Saeed is roaming around freely in Pakistan, the Indian Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Congress and UPA leadership have decided to attack the Hindu outfits. Speaking at the Congress conclave in Jaipur, the Home Minister thundered : “ Reports have come during investigation that BJP and RSS conduct terror training camps to spread terrorism… Bombs were planted in Samjhauta express, Mecca Masjid and also a blast was carried out in Malegaon.” Playing to the Pakistani gallery, Indian Home Minister went on:
“We will have to think about it seriously and will have to remain alert.This is saffron terrorism that I have talked about. It is the same thing and nothing new….” Shinde’s words were music to Pakistani ears, particularly that of Hafiz Saeed wanted by India and US for masterminding terror strikes.
Virtually endorsing Shinde’s remarks, Saeed for whom the US has announced a $10 million bounty said: “The home minister has finally spoken the truth and exposed the involvement of Hindu extremists in Samjhauta Express blast, where innocent Pakistanis were killed.” Considering Mr Shinde’s statement as a “divine intervention,” the 26/11 mastermind, wanted by Indian agencies said: “Indian propaganda against Pakistani organisations of spreading terror has now been exposed.” Saeed went on to say that “world should take immediate notice and ban these terrorist organisations
.” With Mr Shinde accusing BJP and RSS of “running terror training camps,” the most wanted terror patron in India and US felt that with India “admitting” that there is terror infrastructure on it’s soil “conditions are not feasible for granting most favoured nation’s (MFN) status to India by Pakistan.” Mr Shinde’s remarks against BJP and RSS were also played up by the Pakistani media. In a way, Shinde has truly become the “darling of Pakistan and its terrorist outfits.” The home secretary, R.K. Singh also echoed his boss’ statement by saying : “We have names of at least 10 persons involved in Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Dargah Sharif blasts who were associated with RSS.” The external affairs minister, Salman Khurshid also backed Shinde and claimed: “Let me just say this to you very clearly that our stated position, that is shared fully by the Home Minister and past Home Minister, is based entirely on facts as the investigative agencies have made available to the government.
” Incidentally Mr Shinde’s statement being backed by the government has weakened India’s fight against Pakistan and terrorists. In a desperate bid to make political gains Shinde has caused irrepairable damage to the country’s relentless attempts to expose Pakistan’s doublespeak on terrorism. Now everytime, India tries to accuse Pakistan, the other side would simply highlight Shinde’s remarks to clear itself.
A Congress leader who did not approve of Shinde’s remarks said: “Shinde has been given the post mainly for being a sychophant.” He felt that it was “sad to see top Congress leaders put their political interests before the country.”
However, this man’s is a lonely voice in the Congress and government at this juncture. By attacking Hindu outfits, Shinde and the Congress played the so called minority card. The government of the day is reeling under corruption charges, rising prices, inflation, failure to contain Maoists and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
The mood of the country is against the government of the day. People’s anger against the government was evident during the anti-corruption movement by Anna Hazare and then again during the protests against the brutal gangrape of the 23- year-old paramedic student. Everyday, the social media is tearing apart the government. Take a look at Twitter. Rahul Gandhi comes out as the most ridiculed leader of the country.
By targeting BJP and RSS, Shinde and Congress is now trying to divert attention of the country. It’s once again adhering to vote bank politics and appeasement of the minorities. Shinde, who attacked BJP-RSS in India has not yet answered or taken any decisive step towards the hanging of Afzal Guru, who masterminded the attack on Indian Parliament.
Indientally a large chunk in the Congress and the ruling government is in favour of delaying the execution of the death sentence of Afzal Guru, the prime accused in Parliament attack on December 13, 2001. Sources disclosed that a section in the Congress is of the opinion that “its vote bank, particularly among the minorities might be disturbed if the death sentence is carried before the general polls.” At this juncture Congress and Samajwadi Party are reportedly consider themselves of having a strong base among the minority vote bank, sources said.
When asked about the developments on Afzal Guru’s mercy petition Shinde said that “I had to devote a considerable amount of time to the rape incident. I’ll take a decision. I’ll have to go into details. When the president has sent it again, I have to go deep into the case.” Afzal’s file has been shuttling between the President’s Secretariat and the MHA since the tenure of former President Pratibha Patil.
Afzal Guru was convicted of conspiracy in the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament in which nine people were killed. In December 2002, he was sentenced to death by a Delhi court, and the Delhi High Court confirmed the sentence in October 2003. The death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005. While the sentence was scheduled to be carried out on October 20, 2006, it was put off as his wife filed a mercy petition.
On May 18, 2010, the Delhi government had sent its comments on Afzal’s mercy plea to the MHA after a dozen reminders were sent to it. The Delhi government had also recommended that Afzal’s mercy plea be rejected. It was only on July 27, 2011, the home ministry sent Afzal’s file to then President Pratibha Patil for a final decision after recieving comments from the Delhi government. The MHA recommended that the mercy petition filed on behalf of Afzal Guru be rejected.
However, the case remained pending with the President’s secretariat during Ms Patel’s tenure only to be returned by President Mukherjee last year. Mr Mukherjee wanted the new home minister, Mr Shinde to study the case and give his opinion.
Afzal Guru ‘s mercy petition was sent back by President Pranab Mukherjee to home minister Sushilkumar Shinde for re-consideration in November 2012. Mr Shinde had promised to apply his mind to the case and give his recommendation soon.
Incidentally, Afzal’s name is sixth on the list of 11 mercy petitions pending with the government. In recent terrorist cases, the government has so far rejected the mercy pleas of Devinder Singh Bhullar and the three persons involved in assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The latest case where the President rejected the mercy plea of a terrorist was of 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab who was hanged on November 21, 2012. It remains to be seen now whether MHA will change its opinion in Afzal’s case.
Apart from vote bank politics, some of the allies of the Congress particularly National Conference and Samajwadi Party. While SP remained vague over the issue, the NC indicated that the convict “did not get a fair trial.” Therefore Shinde’s remarks, which have been virtually welcomed by the terrorists and terror outfits in Pakistan is not really surprising.
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