Ghost of Afzal Guru returns: Citing Yakub's case, NC demands mortal remains of Parl attack convict

New Delhi, Aug 1: It looks like ghost of Afzal Guru who was hanged in 2013, returns to haunt Modi-led government which is in the power both at the Centre and in the Jammu and Kashmir. Reportedly, State parties(PDP, NC) have demanded that mortal remains of the Guru, convict of the 2001 Parliament attack must be returned to his family.

The fresh demand has gained ground in the wake of handing over the body of the lone convict of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon to his family by the jail authorities.

PDP chief spokesperson Mehboob Beg was quoted by the India Today as saying, "I think government of India should accept our demand of handing over the mortal remains of Muhammad Afzal Guru to his family. Dead bodies don't do any harm and I think government should have now no problem in handing over his body".

Opposition National Conference who was in the power in the State when Guru was hanged in Tihar has also rallied behind PDP.

Party has termed that denying the mortal remains of Afzal Guru to his family goes against the tenet of natural justice. NC further said that such double standard approach between Yakub and Guru case could further alienate Kashmiri people.

"How can you justify not handing over body of Afzal Guru to his family when you handed over the body of Yakub Memon to his family? The system of justice cannot have different interpretations for different people. What justice is it to deprive a young child of the dead body of his father?", NC spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi was quoted by a daily.

Afzal Guru was hanged and was buried in Tihar Jail when UPA was in the power at the Centre. At that time, separatist and State parties were hell-bent on their demand that body should be returned to Afzal's family. But the demand was rejected fearing protests in the Valley.

OneIndia News