Amritsar, Punjab: Pro-freedom Sikh group Dal Khalsa today paid tributes Afzal Guru on the eve of his second death anniversary. The Sikh body bitterly criticized the Indian state for failing to hand over his mortal remains to his wife Tabassum Guru.
Opposing the capital punishment in principle, party president H S Dhami said “the hanging of Guru, was a purely political decision taken by then Indian government to appease the majority community and consolidate their vote-bank”.
He strongly condemned the secret execution of Afzal Guru two years back and slammed the then Indian government for hanging Maqbool Bhat in 1984 in Tihar prison. He said both attained martyrdom for the just cause of Kashmir.
He urged everyone to stand united to fight against death penalty and oppose the state that perpetuates such injustice on the people who stand for their rights.
Focusing on denial of justice and fundamental rights to people of Kashmir and Punjab, he said the political class of the country has scant respect for human rights, rule of law and justice.
Expressing solidarity with struggling people of Kashmir, he urged representative organizations from Kashmir and Punjab to strengthen coordination among them to maintain and uphold distinct identity and status and to achieve the desired goal.
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