The court verdict sentencing the 26/11 Mumbai attack's lone terror survivor Kasab has put the Congress-led UPA government's honesty and sincerity to test in fighting terrorism, particularly the cross-border one. Will the matter of Kasab hanging go the Afzal way? That is the question hovering the mind of every Indian today. UPA has given no indication that it will not.
The fact that the UPA has failed to take a final decision on Afzal's mercy petition for the last over four years is a live tribute to the efficiency and sensitivity of the present government on this vital issue. The Congress government at the Centre, in the past, has taken decision on mercy petitions within 24 hours even though numerous other petitions were pending with it for years. That the government has about 40 such petitions pending with it is just a ploy to play politics with the people and the sentiments of the bereaved families of about 15 brave hearts who sacrificed their lives to protect those very people then holed up in Parliament when terrorists struck on December 13, 2001, who have to take a decision on his petition today..
Government argument that there is no legally prescribed limit within which a government must take a decision on such mercy petitions is fallacious. This situation does not give the government the right and power to sleep over such matters with which the sentiment of the people and security of the country is involved. If the government persists with its stand, UPA will go down in history as the most inefficient and indecisive government which could not take a decision for eight years even after being returned to power again.
Some sections of politicians, particularly the Congress party, is trying to give the impression that the case of Afzal and Kasab are not identical, mainly because while Afzal is an Indian being a Kashmiri, Kasab is a Pakistani national. In the eyes of law, a criminal is just a criminal irrespective of whichever State, country or religion he may be belong. Both Afzal and Kasab are enemies of the Indian nation and none of them deserves any sympathy for any ground.
While it may take some time, may be an year or two, before the High Court confirms the death sentence of Kasab and the Supreme Court takes a final view when his appeal for mercy comes for consideration before it, both the courts and the Union government have to act in right earnest to give out the message loud and clear that when it comes to fighting terror, its sole concern is the national interest of the country and not anything else..
| 
(0 vote)