Fiery debate in J&K House over Afzal Guru hanging

Tempers flared in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday during a discussion on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging, with the state government and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) trading charges.

Leader of the Opposition Mehbooba Mufti initiated the debate, saying that it was “inhumane” to deny Guru a meeting with his family one last time before the hanging. She demanded that all regular business of the House be suspended to “discuss this issue of urgent nature.”

Mufti blamed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his failure to protect Guru. “Had the state government acted on time, Afzal’s life could have been saved. While Tamil Nadu and Punjab could save the lives of two convicts from their states who were sentenced to death, Omar’s government did nothing,” Mufti alleged.

In response, Abdullah slammed the PDP and the separatists for “doing politics on human blood.”

“Let us wait and watch what action is being taken against others convicted in similar cases,” he said. “Yes, my government imposed restrictions. People had to face difficulties and newspapers did not hit the stands. But we prevented bloodshed and saved lives, which was of prime concern and my main objective after the hanging.”

Abdullah said he expected Mufti to raise some pertinent points during her speech and identify the provisions of the law. “But she had only one objective in her mind, to blame me for Afzal’s hanging, as if I had ordered his death, rejected his mercy petition and pulled the lever,” he added.

“You want to play politics on blood but not me, you want to see people bleed but not me, you want to gain benefits out of bloodshed but not me and your trait is to utilise these situations for your interests but I am not of that grain,” Abdullah said.