12-15-2006, 07:10 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Patil shocks India </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Who is he batting for?
Seven years is a very long time in politics, and a very, very long time in the life of a terrorist who has been sentenced to death for treason and waging war against the state. By defending the UPA Government's inexplicable - and indefensible - delay in rejecting the mercy petition of Mohammed Afzal Guru, Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist found guilty of masterminding the December 13, 2001, jihadi attack on Parliament House, and slyly suggesting that it can take as much as seven years to decide whether or not to execute him, Home Minister Shivraj Patil has made two points abundantly clear. First, it is unlikely that Mohammed Afzal Guru will get his just desserts till such time the Congress is in power at the Centre. Second, the man who planned the audacious jihadi strike on the heart of India's democracy can now spend his time plotting equally audacious terrorist attacks instead of preparing for his date with the hangman. Such is the Congress's craving for Muslim votes that it does not want to be seen as rejecting Afzal Guru's mercy petition. Of course, this is bad politics; worse, its practitioners are guilty of tarring India's Muslims and casting a vile aspersion on their patriotism. Barring Kashmiri separatists and a handful of mullahs who believe in waging trans-national jihad, are committed to destroying the idea of India and unabashedly wear their communalism on their sleeves, no Muslim in this country would shed tears if Afzal Guru, and others like him, were to be despatched to the other world. Meanwhile, we might as well resign ourselves to a daring jihadi attack to secure the release of Afzal Guru; now that he has been assured a fresh lease of life, he and his friends can get down to this task.
<b>What Mr Patil's shocking statement in Parliament also reveals is the extent to which the UPA Government has weakened the state, making a mockery of our claim that we, too, are part of the war against terror.</b> Within days of coming to power, the UPA Government scrapped POTA to pander to the demand of those who see nothing wrong with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children by the standard-bearers of jihad. Subsequent actions of the Government in dismantling the anti-terror regime put together by the NDA have facilitated India's enemies to strike with increasing impunity and greater ferocity. The Government, however, remains unmoved, firm in its resolve not to lift a finger in admonishment, leave alone take decisive measures to confront the merchants of death and destruction. Much of this policy has been fashioned by the Congress, articulated by the Prime Minister and put into place by the Home Minister. Their insensitivity to the plight of the victims of terror - look at the manner in which rebuke and insult are being heaped on the widows and relatives of those killed in the attack on Parliament House by Mr Patil and other senior Congress leaders - matches that of those who perpetrate terror. Nothing else explains why Mr Patil should have sought to legitimise that which is morally reprehensible and militates against the Government's responsibility to protect citizens from killers. His statements in the past have raised doubts about whether he is equal to his office; this time, by virtually conceding ground to those who want Afzal Guru to walk free, he has proved his critics right.Â
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The Pioneer Edit Desk
Who is he batting for?
Seven years is a very long time in politics, and a very, very long time in the life of a terrorist who has been sentenced to death for treason and waging war against the state. By defending the UPA Government's inexplicable - and indefensible - delay in rejecting the mercy petition of Mohammed Afzal Guru, Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist found guilty of masterminding the December 13, 2001, jihadi attack on Parliament House, and slyly suggesting that it can take as much as seven years to decide whether or not to execute him, Home Minister Shivraj Patil has made two points abundantly clear. First, it is unlikely that Mohammed Afzal Guru will get his just desserts till such time the Congress is in power at the Centre. Second, the man who planned the audacious jihadi strike on the heart of India's democracy can now spend his time plotting equally audacious terrorist attacks instead of preparing for his date with the hangman. Such is the Congress's craving for Muslim votes that it does not want to be seen as rejecting Afzal Guru's mercy petition. Of course, this is bad politics; worse, its practitioners are guilty of tarring India's Muslims and casting a vile aspersion on their patriotism. Barring Kashmiri separatists and a handful of mullahs who believe in waging trans-national jihad, are committed to destroying the idea of India and unabashedly wear their communalism on their sleeves, no Muslim in this country would shed tears if Afzal Guru, and others like him, were to be despatched to the other world. Meanwhile, we might as well resign ourselves to a daring jihadi attack to secure the release of Afzal Guru; now that he has been assured a fresh lease of life, he and his friends can get down to this task.
<b>What Mr Patil's shocking statement in Parliament also reveals is the extent to which the UPA Government has weakened the state, making a mockery of our claim that we, too, are part of the war against terror.</b> Within days of coming to power, the UPA Government scrapped POTA to pander to the demand of those who see nothing wrong with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children by the standard-bearers of jihad. Subsequent actions of the Government in dismantling the anti-terror regime put together by the NDA have facilitated India's enemies to strike with increasing impunity and greater ferocity. The Government, however, remains unmoved, firm in its resolve not to lift a finger in admonishment, leave alone take decisive measures to confront the merchants of death and destruction. Much of this policy has been fashioned by the Congress, articulated by the Prime Minister and put into place by the Home Minister. Their insensitivity to the plight of the victims of terror - look at the manner in which rebuke and insult are being heaped on the widows and relatives of those killed in the attack on Parliament House by Mr Patil and other senior Congress leaders - matches that of those who perpetrate terror. Nothing else explains why Mr Patil should have sought to legitimise that which is morally reprehensible and militates against the Government's responsibility to protect citizens from killers. His statements in the past have raised doubts about whether he is equal to his office; this time, by virtually conceding ground to those who want Afzal Guru to walk free, he has proved his critics right.Â
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