The recent tweet by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the hanging of Mohammed Afzal Guru-a Parliament attack case convict has once again created ripples in  political circles. Guru is on death row and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has recommended to President Pratibha Patil that his mercy petition be rejected. Mr. Omar’s controversial comments came a day after the Tamil Nadu assembly passed an unanimous resolution urging the President to reconsider the mercy plea of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case who are facing death sentences. As the cases are different, Omar needs to take a look at the harsher realities. Moreover, if one state or a group of people sets a bad precedence does that mean Omar will follow their suit. The statement puts a question mark on Omar’s secular credentials.
It is a matter of great concern that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has raked up yet another controversy at a time when the state was limping back to normalcy and the tourism industry is in full stream.  Mr. Omar’s statement, though aimed to please a particular constituency has invoked a sharp reaction from all quarters. There had been strikes and demonstrations in Jammu and other places in response to his irresponsible tweet.
Omar Abdullah tweeted that if Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution seeking mercy for terror convict Afzal Guru on the lines of Tamil Nadu, the reaction would not be as muted. “If J&K assembly had passed a resolution similar to the Tamil Nadu one for Afzal Guru would the reaction have been as muted? I think not,” the state’s chief minister said. Taking a cue from Omar’s statement, an independent legislator Abdul Rashid Sheikh had moved a resolution in J and K Assembly seeking commutation of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Gurus death sentence. The resolution was subsequently listed by the Speaker.
India is a secular state, but when it comes to politics, politicians forget that and they start to talk of religion, even when that means saving the life of a terrorist. Rajiv Gandhi assassins were to be hanged on 9th Sep in Vellore. But a stay order of eight weeks was taken on the death sentence from Madras High Court. The Tamil Nadu Assembly for once came together and passed a resolution asking for clemency for the three accused on death row. The reason behind such a noble cause is just one – the accused are all Tamils and every political party in Tamil Nadu is now trying to save their life so that they can claim votes in the name of being pro-Tamil.
Omar Abdullah is only aggravating the situation. If there was a wrong precedence from the Tamil Nadu government, it does not mean the other governments should also react in a similar manner. The arguments advanced by Omar are not only untenable but against the secular fabric of the country.
Unarguably, this is not the first time  that Omar has embroiled himself in a controversy as he has mastered the art of his father and grandfather to keep the central leadership on the toes. Last year, Mr. Omar had stated in the Assembly that Jammu and Kashmir had not merged with India but acceded to it. While speaking at the Assembly Omar Abdullah questioned Kashmir being an integral part of India. At another time Abdullah opined that the Kashmir issue cannot be resolved by addressing development alone but needs a political approach. Mr Abdullah was also on the forefront to demand Greater Autonomy to the state for which his party passed a resolution in the House.
The latest statement indicated Omar’s thinking about terrorists and terrorism in his own state. Indeed, it was definitely neither good for the state nor country as a whole.  Maybe, Omar has hit the lines just to hog limelight and stay afloat in national and international politics.  Whatsoever, its repercussions could be damaging.
What stands out clear in the episode involving TN and J and K Assembly  is the lack of honesty in the political class. They are selective about issues and positions to take, weighing political gains and losses all the time. The arguments advanced by the politicians behind the resolutions can’t impress the common man anymore. He can see through the motive.
The statement reeks of nothing but religion and region-based politics. Afzal Guru has been on a death penalty ever since he attacked Parliament in 2001 and his mercy petition is pending with the President of India. Several policemen laid down their lives to protect the politicians on that day, but Omar’s statement shows how little he cared about the Indian lives lost.
If we have politicians like Omar and Jaya who only do caste and religion-based politics, it becomes very clear why we still have terrorists, Azmal Kasab, Afzal Guru and Bhullar enjoying hospitality of  Indian jails . Pity on this country, regionalism and political parties. It is so because UPA lacks the will to tackle the menace of terrorism and act against politicians who encourage these elements by advocating the remission of sentences. Unless India has the guts to give swift death penalties to terrorists irrespective of their religion, it will continue to face terror attacks from Pak-sponsored Jihadis.
As expected Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement evoked sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party, with its senior leader terming the statement “irresponsible.”
While Shiv Sena demanded Omar’s resignation and sought his apology; the PDP has backed him. Some quarters have opined that Omar has no moral right to continue sitting on the Chief Minister’s chair as there was no difference between his and the separatists’ statements.
Not surprisingly, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah also defended his son Omar Abdullah over the latter’s remarks on the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly delaying the hanging of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassins. Farooq Abdullah said, “My son has every right to tweet and I support him over his comments. He is telling the truth and there is nothing wrong in that.”
There is no denying the fact that Afzal Guru is not a petty criminal but a mastermind who planned to kill politicians and demolish the Indian Parliament. The attack claimed the lives of 13 policemen but still Omar and his father wants Indian government to pardon him and not to hang him. Is there any logic? No. Keeping in view the death and destruction caused by the ruthless terrorist attacks guilty must be hanged to deter others from committing such heinous crimes.
All this makes it clear that Omar’s statement is aimed at vote-bank politics to address the separatist constituency of Kashmir Valley. It is against the interests of the country. After a relative calm, trouble seems to be brewing again in the Valley over the death sentence awarded to Mohammed Afzal Guru, convicted in the Parliament attack case. It is advisable for Omar to abandon the policy of appeasement and work for  all round development of the state.