Shinde plays for Hafiz Saeed

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.