Kashmiri Pandit seeks pardon for Afzal Guru

Jammu, Sept 30: Veteran trade unionist Sampat Prakash, the only Hindu member of the committee to defend Parliament attack accused and Delhi University lecturer Syed Abdul Rehman Gilani, has appealed to the Centre to grant mercy to Afzal Guru, who has been condemned to death for being the mastermind behind the terror act.

Mr Prakash told sources that he was of the opinion that Afzal should not be hanged as it could have ''wide-ranging consequences''.

''Of course, the law has to take its course, but there is a need to take a liberal view of the case and, therefore, his mercy petition should be accepted. The main purpose of the punishment is to reform a person and give him a chance to prove his worth to mankind rather than to kill him. Brutality has to be met with reformation of perpetrators of the crime and this is the message we learn from our glorious freedom struggle,'' he said.

The veteran leader, who had played a leading role in the acquittal of Syed Geelani, stated that as a Kashmiri Pandit and the son of soil, he was of the opinion that the sentiments of the people of Kashmir should be kept in mind and Afzal not be sent to the gallows.

But he added that his logic for endorsing Afzal's mercy petition was based on considerations ''beyond the factor of ethnicity''.

Mr Prakash had provided an eloquent testimony to translating the substance of the conversation between Mr Geelani and his brother, from Kashmiri to Hindi, thus challenging the Delhi Police's contention that this had proved his complicity in the attack, and paving the way for the lecturer's acquittal.

''At the time of the Geelani case, I was repeatedly told by many people that i would be ex-communicated but my conscience was clear.

I believe there is no contradiction between the values of humanity and interest of anybody, including national interest. Any interest which puts into jeopardy the life of any innocent serves nobody's interest,'' he said.

UNI

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