National Conference leader and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah said he was sad that ‘Afzal Guru should have died without being able to say goodbye to the people he loved’, but cautioned all against playing it up to such an extent as to jeopardise the country’s ‘hard-earned freedom and status as one nation’.
“Afzal Guru was given a trial but lost it. His mercy petition to the President too was turned down,” Mr. Abdullah said, while launching the State government’s 10,000 roof-top solar power plant programme here on Monday.
He added that the terrorist attack on Parliament in which Guru was implicated was a frontal attack on the conscience of the nation.
Mr. Abdullah said he was afraid of the ‘enemy within the country than outside.’ The country had gone through tragedies and no one wanted another.
“Our forefathers stood united to fight and win freedom for the country. This freedom and unity should not be allowed to disintegrate, come what may. Let’s do our best to win the battle to secure freedom and unity,” he said.
Call for unity
Mr. Abdullah gave a passionate call for unity and togetherness and said the country should not give in to the designs of people with a divisive agenda. The media too should be careful while dealing with sensitive issues such as this, he said.