JK Assembly to debate resolution for clemency to Guru on Sep28

Srinagar, Sep 18 (PTI) The Assembly in north Indian
state of Jammu and Kashmir will on September 28 debate and
vote on a controversial resolution demanding clemency for
Indian Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
The resolution has been moved by Independent MLA Sheikh
Abdul Rashid seeking clemency for Guru who has been sentenced
to death for his involvement in the attack on Parliament in
December 2001.
Rashid submitted the resolution after Tamil Nadu
Assembly passed a resolution seeking clemency for three
persons on death row for their role in assassination of former
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The Assembly Secretariat had received 39 resolutions
from the MLAs but the rules provide for discussion and voting
on only seven resolutions per session.
A draw of lots was conducted yesterday and the
resolution moved by Rashid was the second among those
selected.
Both separatist and mainstream politicians in the
Valley, except the ruling coalition, have one way or the other
supported the demand for clemency to Guru while the political
parties in Jammu region have opposed the idea.
The PDP, led by former chief minister Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, have said Guru should
be spared the death penalty as hanging him can have negative
effects on the situation in Kashmir.
BJP, on the other hand, has questioned the motive behind
the resolution asking how the legislature can interfere in a
case decided by the Indian Supreme Court.
BJP state president Shamsher Singh said they will launch
statewide protests against the resolution.
"How can Assembly come forward to save a person who has
been sentenced to death by the Supreme Court? The time has
come to expose the dubious character of Congress in the
country," Singh said.
The BJP will find support from the three MLAs of
National Panthers Party and some independent MLAs from Jammu
as the party headed by Bhim Singh has said it cannot go
against the law of the land.
National Conference, the senior partner in the
34-month-old coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah, has
refrained from commenting on the issue so far but said a
decision on whether to support or oppose the resolution will
be taken at the party legislators' meet expected to be held
later this week.
"The decision on the resolution will be taken at the
party legislators meet," Omar had said recently.
The ruling party will have to walk a tight rope while
deciding its strategy on the resolution as the main Opposition
PDP has already announced its support.
The statements of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik will also increase the
pressure on NC as the separatists have warned that hanging
Guru could lead to disastrous consequences.
Congress, the junior partner in the government, will be
wary of the outcome of the resolution, whatever it may be, as
it is the only party today which has considerable support base
across the state.
Pradesh Congress Committee President Saifuddin Soz said
the party MLAs will decide whether to support or oppose the
resolution. "We still have time... the legislature party will
meet and take a decision," he said.