In a politically heated environment, on the eve of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Omar Abdullah, who is the vice-president of the National Conference, said that Afzal Guru's execution was legal and constitutional. Afzal Guru was convicted for the 2001 Parliament attack and was executed in 2013 during the tenure of Omar Abdullah as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. The matter that had raised emotions is once again talked about because political parties have started preparing for elections in the region, which is leading to a debate regarding past decisions.
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#### Omar Abdullah's Stand on Afzal Guru's Execution
Omar Abdullah justified the execution of Afzal Guru in an interview recently by mentioning that the execution was part of a legal procedure and not on political grounds. He said that his government was never involved in the matter and it was a decision of the central government, upheld by the courts. Abdullah had to say that though he might not have agreed to it on a personal basis, his government respected the rule of law which had kept Guru's execution hanging for years.
This comes at a time when the National Conference is busy with its campaign for the forthcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The opposition parties have been trying to question the way various sensitive issues were handled during Abdullah's tenure.
#### The 2001 Parliament Attack and Afzal Guru's Role
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Afzal Guru was convicted in the case of the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament, an act that sent shockwaves throughout the land and brought India-Pakistani relations to an all-time low. Guru was said to have harbored and provided considerable support to these attackers, for which he was sentenced to death in 2002. After a lengthy legal battle, his execution was carried out in February 2013.
The execution of Guru was controversial because he was not given a fair trial, a fact sorely resented by many in the region, particularly in the Kashmir Valley. The hanging of Guru was thus a misplaced decision, which, at election times at any rate, had been a sore point with the political leadership when their past omissions and commissions come under scrutiny.
#### Political Fallouts of the Execution of Guru
After the execution of Guru, the then-Omar Abdullah government faced protests from all corners and accusations of not doing enough to avoid it. There have been protests in the Valley, and it remains an emotive issue, especially among hard-core separatists.
As elections draw closer, the controversy over Guru's hanging is expected to be exploited by political rivals to corner Abdullah and his party. PDP and BJP leaders have already raised the issue in election campaigns and accused Abdullah of failing to safeguard the interests of Kashmiris.
#### Fallout on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections
But the timing of Abdullah's defense of Guru's execution may have far-reaching implications on the National Conference's fortunes in the elections. Though his party traditionally got solid support in large parts of the Kashmir Valley, the refurbished debate over Guru's execution may influence undecided voters.
While the remarks by Abdullah may soothe those voters who believe in the rule of law, most political analysts feel that they will antagonize many others who look at this issue through the prism of emotion or nationalism. The coming elections promise to be a keenly contested affair as Abdullah's party faces strong opposition from PDP, BJP, and other regional players.
#### Conclusion
Just as Jammu and Kashmir gear up for elections, a very emotive issue has just gotten going with Afzal Guru's execution being justified by Omar Abdullah. While he maintained that Afzal Guru's execution was carried out according to due process, his utterances will be picked on both by his political opponents and the people of this sensitive border state. The forthcoming elections will tell whether this stand of Abdullah will benefit or harm his party's fortunes in the region's political and emotional sensitivities.
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