National Conference-Congress alliance in a bind over discussion on Afzal Guru’s hanging

These adjournment motions were moved by five National Conference MLAs,besides 16 Peoples Democratic Party members led by Mehbooba Mufti and the lone CPI(M) member M Y Tarigmi.

An indication to this effect was given in the House by the Speaker also on Friday when he asked the agitating PDP members to take their seats saying that he may allow discussion on the issue. “I have only reserved my decision on adjournment motions and not rejected them,’’ he had pointed out.

Guru was hanged in Tihar jail on February 9 and his body was buried within the jail premises like that of JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat. Both the chief minister Omar Abdullah and PDP patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had in separate letters to Prime Minister sought return of Guru’s body to his family members in the Valley.

Already engaged in browbeating each other politically in the Valley,both the National Conference and PDP have found a common cause in Afzal Guru. Apart from seeking return of Afzal Guru’s body to his family members for last rites in the Valley,Omar has gone step ahead demanding the mortal remains of JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat who was also hanged and buried in Tihar jail in 1984.

The Congress,main partner in ruling coalition along with National Conference,however,is opposed to any discussion over the issue in the House. He was hanged as per the decision of Supreme Court after President rejected his mercy petition,its senior leaders said.

The political observers attribute difference between the two ruling allies to their stakes in different regions of the state and the country. While National Conference and PDP has most of its members elected to the Legislative Assembly from Valley,the Congress has its majority MLAs from Jammu .

To avoid embarrassment during discussion,hectic efforts are afoot to find a way out. “Many options are under consideration,’’ a senior Congress leader said on terms of anonymity,adding that much depends on floor management in accordance with the situation that emerges in the House on Monday.

The Congress was opposed to discussion over Afzal Guru from the very beginning,sources said. It had made it clear even at a joint meeting of both the party legislators convened to devise a joint strategy before the beginning of the budget session.

Even on Friday,its firebrand leader and Minister for PHE,Irrigation and Flood Control,Sham Lal Sharma,had sought disqualification of independent member Engineer Abdul Rashid from the House for his describing Kashmir a disputed territory and demanding plebiscite there the previous day. However,he was pacified by the Speaker who said that the issue shall be treated closed as the Deputy Speaker had already asked the Assembly staff not to record his statement.

Over the Afzal Guru issue,the ruling coalition is caught between the devil and deep sea situation. Any discussion in the House will take the lid off the difference between the National Conference and the Congress,political observers said,adding that in case it is not allowed,the PDP will exploit it in Valley to the disadvantage of National Conference.