A perfect day for democracy
February 10, 2013
Wasn’t it? Yesterday I mean. Spring announced itself in Delhi. The sun was out, and the Law took its Course. Just before breakfast, Afzal Guru, prime accused in the 2001 Parliament Attack was secretly hanged, and his body was interred in Tihar Jail. Was he buried next to Maqbool Butt? (The other Kashmiri who was hanged in Tihar in 1984. Kashmiris will mark that anniversary tomorrow.) Afzal’s wife and son were not informed. “The Authorities intimated the family through Speed Post and Registered Post,” the Home Secretary told the press, “the Director General of J&K Police has been told to check whether they got it or not.” No big deal, they’re only the family of a Kashmiri terrorist.
In a moment of rare unity the Nation, or at least its major political parties, the Congress, the BJP and the CPM came together as one (barring a few squabbles about ‘delay’ and ‘timing’) to celebrate the triumph of the Rule of Law. The Conscience of the Nation, which broadcasts live from TV studios these days, unleashed its collective intellect on us — the usual cocktail of papal passion and a delicate grip on facts. Even though the man was dead and gone, like cowards that hunt in packs, they seemed to need each other to keep their courage up. Perhaps because deep inside themselves they know that they all colluded to do something terribly wrong.
What are the facts? Full Story>>>
‘INDIA WILL SUPPORT RESOLUTION IF SL FAILS TO HONOUR UN RECOMMENDATIONS’
India would support any resolution brought forward by United Nations against Sri Lanka if the island nation does not honour recommendations of the world body on human rights issues, India’s Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasamy said on Sunday.
“When United Nations brought forward a resolution against Sri Lanka, India voted for it. If UN’s recommendations are not honoured by Sri Lanka, India will support any resolution brought by it against the island nation,” he told reporters in Chennai.
Observing that the Indian government was always for protecting Sri Lankan Tamils, he noted that powers were given to them through the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardene accord. “But Rajapaksa is not accepting them now.
“India is taking steps to get powers for Sri Lankan Tamils. That’s why India is taking a neutral stand. Not like some Tamil parties and Tamil Nadu government, which take decisions and pass resolution without thinking...,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

