SRINAGAR: Main opposition PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the body of Afzal Guru be returned to his family for proper burial, saying this will help “rebuild trust” between Kashmir and rest of the country.
Sayeed, who is a former union Home Minister and has also been the state’s chief minister, termed the hanging of the Parliament attack convict as a “negative reference point in Kashmir’s painful history”.
In the letter to the Prime Minister, he has said that returning the body of Guru to his family would reduce the pain of his family and help in rebuilding of bridges between Kashmir and rest of the country.
“It (handing of the body) will also reduce the pain of his family and perhaps open the way for some rebuilding of bridges at the psychological level between Kashmir and rest of the country.
“I have already said the return of Guru’s remains to his family is the minimum that the government can do to apply some balm to a deep wound,” the letter said.
Sayeed rued that Afzal’s family was not given a chance to meet him before he was hanged on February 9 in Tihar jail in Delhi.
Alleging that the Centre had “completely ignored the voices of sanity” on Afzal’s hanging, Sayeed said even though the feelings of pain and anger did not erupt as expected, it should not be construed as an absence of such feelings.
Noting that the hanging could impact the peace in the region, he said it does not convey to J and K a message “of being equal partners in the idea of India”.
“I am writing this letter after an agonising fortnight that in my opinion witnessed all the efforts at rebuilding a relationship of trust between Kashmir and rest of the country almost evaporate into thin air,” he said.
“The manner in which Mohammad Afzal Guru was executed in secrecy and very obvious unholy haste is another hugely negative reference point in our (Kashmir’s) painful history,” he added.
The PDP patriach also said he was deeply anxious about the possible fallout of the hanging on the younger generation.
