What Congress wants from flash execution of Kasab and Afzal

Portray itself as a party that can take firm decisions and counter the rise of Modi

ajay

Ajay Singh | February 9, 2013


Shiv Sena supporters celebrate at Jantar mantar after the hanging of Afzal Guru
Shiv Sena supporters celebrate at Jantar mantar after the hanging of Afzal Guru

The Congress seems to lack the cognitive ability to discern that toughness in governance cannot be demonstrated only by flash executions of convicted terrorists. But that's exactly what it wants to convey through the hanging of Ajmal Kasab in November and Afzal Guru early this morning.  

Kasab and Guru were pronounced guilty by the highest court of the land and their mercy petitions were also rejected by the president. So, the only course left for the government was to hang them. If anything, it is a matter of shame that it took the government so long, especially in the case of Guru, to gather its wits and carry out what it was legally mandated to do. 

In recent AICC conclaves, there has been clamour within the Congress party to show firm resolve to counter terrorism emanating from Islamic fundamentalism. The urgency to give the UPA government an image of a firm regime also emanates from the perceived political threat from the emergence of Narendra Modi as a decisive and firm leader. 

There is nothing wrong if the government in its own wisdom decides to execute death warrants because that is the rule of law. But this rule must apply to all and at all times. During the eight years it was dragging its feet on Guru's execution, the UPA government did not tire of telling the country how legal processes and procedures take their own time and that governments have no control over the same. Yet, when it wanted to, the same processes moved with lightning speed and the executions were over in a flash. 

Playing with fire for political profit is an old Congress pastime. It created a Frankenstein for itself when it opened the locks of the Ayodhya temple, feeding the monster of Hindu fundamentalism that led to the demolition of the Babri mosque. It wanted to extract political mileage through communal politics and ended up getting itself scorched in Uttar Pradesh and putting the country through two decades of misery. Similarly, with the sudden executions of Kasab and Afzal, the UPA wants to send a message of toughness because it has been branded as perhaps the most indecisive government ever. 

It is a sad day for the country if the only way the government of the day can demonstrate its resoluteness is through execution of terrorists. 

Comments

 

Other News

Understanding Bharat’s history from its own perspective

Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharat`s History By Utpal Kumar BluOne Ink, 334 pages

‘MAGA’ + ‘MIGA’ = ‘MEGA’ partnership for prosperity: Modi

Prime minister Narendra Modi has linked the dream of a Viksit Bharat with US president Donald Trump’s slogan, ‘Make America Great Again’, or ‘MAGA’, saying that when these two democracies work together, i.e. ‘MAGA’ plus ‘Make India Great Again’ (‘

ONOE: Anti-federalism or pro-reform?

The government`s move to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) has ignited widespread debate. On one hand, it offers tangible benefits, such as removing the possibility of a governance paralysis and reducing election costs. On the other hand, the opposition and sections of civil society s

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana completes first year

On February 13, 2025, the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY) will mark its first anniversary, celebrating a year of empowering households with affordable solar energy and accelerating India’s transition to a sustainable future. Launched by prime minister Narendra Modi on Febru

How to leverage AI to solve urgent global issues

The world seems to be hurling towards World War III in all the possible scenarios: hot war, cold war, and proxy war. The battleground seems to have expanded beyond physical to digital or virtual/mixed reality with technology like drones. Moreover, the line between civilian and military targets seems to hav

Budget: Progress towards SDGs and areas for improvement

The Union Budget 2025-26 outlines India`s vision for economic and social growth while also reflecting the country`s commitment to sustainable development. As India moves closer to the 2030 deadline for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this budget presents a balanced approach

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now



Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter