BJP criticizes Omar Abdullah’s comments on Afzal Guru’s execution as "irresponsible and anti-national"

BJP accused Omar Abdullah of making these statements for electoral gains, questioning, To win the election he (Omar Abdullah) is saying that hanging him (Afzal Guru) was a wrong decision."

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has strongly condemned remarks made by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice President & former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding the execution of Afzal Guru.

Abdullah had recently criticized the execution of Guru, a convict in the 2001 Parliament attack case, saying, "I don’t believe that any purpose was served by executing him. I don't.”

Prasad responded sharply, stating, "Afzal Guru was given death punishment by the law. The matter went to the Supreme Court, and even a review was done but he was found to be involved in anti-national and terrorist activities." Prasad accused Abdullah of making these statements for electoral gains, questioning, To win the election he (Omar Abdullah) is saying that hanging him (Afzal Guru) was a wrong decision."

Prasad further criticized Abdullah’s remarks as “irresponsible and anti-national,” suggesting that they reveal a softness towards terrorists. "What does he want? I condemn this, it's an irresponsible and anti-national statement. It shows the truth that he and his family remain soft about terrorists."

He denounced the remarks as an attempt to weaken India for electoral benefits. "To win the election, will you talk about breaking India?" Prasad said, adding, "It's good that his real face has just been exposed. The people of Kashmir and BJP won't let his conspiracy to weaken India be successful."

Omar Abdullah has criticized the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, asserting that the state government would have opposed the decision if it had been involved. In an interview with news agency ANI, Abdullah expressed his strong disapproval of the execution.

Abdullah stated, "My unfortunate thing was that the J&K government had nothing to do with Afzal Guru’s execution. Otherwise, you would have had to do it with the permission of the state government, which I can tell you in no uncertain terms would not have been forthcoming. We wouldn’t have done it.”

He further commented, “I don’t believe that any purpose was served by executing him. I don't.”

Also Read: Omar Abdullah accuses BJP of making deals with regional parties and Independents for J-K Govt formation

The assembly elections are scheduled to take place in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with a total of 90 constituencies, including 7 reserved for SCs and 9 for STs. Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible voters, marking the first assembly elections in the region since the abrogation of Article 370.