01-17-2008, 02:48 AM
http://in.news.yahoo.com/indiabroadcast/20...-7885372_2.html
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->No clemency for Afzal? Govt makes up its mind
Wed, Jan 16 08:50 PM
New Delhi: The BJP's success in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections has put immense pressure on the UPA Government to punish the guilty of the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament.
A powerful group within the Manmohan Singh government and the Congress insists that South Block has run out of options and argues that the Home and Law ministries studying the clemency petitions lodged with the President cannot delay the inevitable.
That means the delay in hanging Afzal Guru, who has been given death for his role in the attack, is now becoming a political liability for the Government. Its embarrassment became severe when Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi used the "terrorism" card while campaigning in the elections.
"What should the Gujarat police do with a man who has terror links with Pakistan? Should they take Sonia Gandhi's permission? Whoever threatens Gujarat will be dealt with," Modi had said.
The Congress' future challenges group is troubled by this Opposition emphasis on terrorism. The Government has told the party leadership that the Home and Law ministries have found no way of saving Afzal. Legally, speaking, Afzal's is a lost cause.
There is increasing awareness that if the Government doesn't act decisively sometime this year, the BJP will make terrorism a countrywide emotive issue during the run-up to general elections.
The Government officially denies any move on Afzal but politically it has made up its mind. The question is if the noose is going to tighten round Afzal which is the best time to let that happen.
Karnataka is the first big election coming up in April-May. Should the government choose a date before that? Or wait for the polls in the four big states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Delhi in November?
Interestingly, Jammu and Kashmir goes to the polls possibly in October. The government is not too worried about the likely impact in the trouble-torn state. As it is, anti-incumbency is expected to take its toll on the Ghulam Nabi government.
Whichever the month the government chooses, Afzal's time is fast running out. A powerful section in the Government wants it to do a balance and simultaneously take action on the Srikrishna Commission report on the 1993 Mumbai riots which has been gathering dust for nearly a decade.
In death, Afzal might provide Congress the necessary political weapon it is looking for.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->No clemency for Afzal? Govt makes up its mind
Wed, Jan 16 08:50 PM
New Delhi: The BJP's success in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections has put immense pressure on the UPA Government to punish the guilty of the December 13, 2001 attack on Parliament.
A powerful group within the Manmohan Singh government and the Congress insists that South Block has run out of options and argues that the Home and Law ministries studying the clemency petitions lodged with the President cannot delay the inevitable.
That means the delay in hanging Afzal Guru, who has been given death for his role in the attack, is now becoming a political liability for the Government. Its embarrassment became severe when Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi used the "terrorism" card while campaigning in the elections.
"What should the Gujarat police do with a man who has terror links with Pakistan? Should they take Sonia Gandhi's permission? Whoever threatens Gujarat will be dealt with," Modi had said.
The Congress' future challenges group is troubled by this Opposition emphasis on terrorism. The Government has told the party leadership that the Home and Law ministries have found no way of saving Afzal. Legally, speaking, Afzal's is a lost cause.
There is increasing awareness that if the Government doesn't act decisively sometime this year, the BJP will make terrorism a countrywide emotive issue during the run-up to general elections.
The Government officially denies any move on Afzal but politically it has made up its mind. The question is if the noose is going to tighten round Afzal which is the best time to let that happen.
Karnataka is the first big election coming up in April-May. Should the government choose a date before that? Or wait for the polls in the four big states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Delhi in November?
Interestingly, Jammu and Kashmir goes to the polls possibly in October. The government is not too worried about the likely impact in the trouble-torn state. As it is, anti-incumbency is expected to take its toll on the Ghulam Nabi government.
Whichever the month the government chooses, Afzal's time is fast running out. A powerful section in the Government wants it to do a balance and simultaneously take action on the Srikrishna Commission report on the 1993 Mumbai riots which has been gathering dust for nearly a decade.
In death, Afzal might provide Congress the necessary political weapon it is looking for.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->