E-Paper
Parliament attack not a matter of shame: Afzal letter
A fortnight after Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was executed, a letter he allegedly wrote three years ago justifying the attack and praying for martyrdom, has surfaced. Toufiq Rashid reports.
A fortnight after Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was executed, a letter he allegedly wrote three years ago justifying the attack and praying for martyrdom, has surfaced.
The handwritten letter to Shabnum Qayoom, editor of Qaumi Waqar, an Urdu weekly from Sringar, contradicts Guru’s repeated claims that he had been made a scapegoat and is expected to fuel the debate over his involvement in the attack.
“I want to convey, through you, my humble request to Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin that he should not call the December 13 incident a conspiracy.
"The incident is linked to the Kashmir issue. If it is a conspiracy, then the whole armed resistance is a conspiracy,” read the letter published in Qaumi Waqar.
There is no reason to be ashamed of the attack either, Guru further wrote. “When the Indian government, which has turned Kashmir into a graveyard, has no feeling of guilt, why should we feel guilty?” He also asked Salahuddin to pray for his “martyrdom”.
Asked why the letter was not published earlier, Qayoom said it was a matter of his discretion. “I thought it was an appropriate time to make it public.’’
Qayoom feels Guru had written the letter in a fit of depression. “Guru had convinced us about his victimhood,” he said. “I think the letter was written when he was disillusioned and had no hope of mercy. He wanted to claim responsibility and die as a mujahid.’’
Moderates and hardliners unite
Srinagar: The execution of Afzal Guru has brought together hardliners and moderates to devise a “coordinated campaign” to bring back his body.
The separatists — including the Hurriyat, J-K Liberation Front, Jamaat-e-Islami and all-women separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Millat — had their first secret meeting on Sunday. The first ‘united protest calendar’ issued was up to March 3.
(HT Correspondent)
