Guru hanging grave miscarriage of justice: Sajad Lone

GNS SRINAGAR FEB 09 : Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone has called the execution of Afzal Guru a grave miscarriage of justice. "Gurus hanging is a ruthless political decision devoid of any sensitivity. This is yet again an instance of total disregard being shown to the sensitivities and perceptions of the people of Kashmir," he said.

Lone added that the people of Kashmir have "serious reservations over the quality of legal defense made available to Afzal Guru". "In the context of the media-trial, Guru stood convicted even before the trial could have begun," he said.

Lone said "in a brazen show of insensitivity, even the constitutional provisions of the procedure of considering clemency were ignored".

"We see the National Conference, which is a part of the UPA government, as a willing co-author of the decision to hang Afzal Guru. The National Conference has been a common and enthusiastic script-writer when ever the son-of-the-soil was hanged- be it Maqbool Bhat or now Afzal Guru. National Conference has three members of parliament and one senior cabinet minister in the UPA government and if they in fact are serious about their reservation about this hanging, let them recall their minister from the UPA cabinet and withdraw their support," he said.

He said the current legislative assembly is also a partner and an accomplice to this hanging since they categorically chose not to support a clemency resolution presented before it by an independent MLA.

"Peoples Conference wants to put it on record that this will contribute further to the isolation and alienation mindset of a Kashmiri viz-a-viz the dispensation of justice by the system in the long run. We demand that the remains of Mr. Guru be handed over to his family and as a kashmiri, his right to be buried in his soil be upheld at all costs," he demanded.