Shah Abbas
Srinagar
Afzal Guru’s family has rejected the reports that they are visiting Tihar Jail on government expenses to offer ‘Fateha’ at the grave of Afzal Guru, the parliament attack convict who was hanged on Saturday morning.
The family of Afzal told Kashmir Life over phone from Sopore that if government of India assures to return the mortal remains of Afzal, then they might visit Tihar on their own expenses, any time.
“We are hearing that the government of India has offered to airlift us to Delhi to offer ‘Fateha’ on the grave of Afzal. But we want to make it clear that we will never ever consider any such offer from neither the government of India nor the state government,” Afzal’s cousin, Mohammd Yasin Guru said, adding, “If we are told to receive the mortal remains of our beloved Afzal, then we are ready to go anywhere on our own expenses.”
Yasin claimed Afzal’s wife, Tabasum, and son, Galib, were sitting next to him and that they too reject any such offer, “I am talking on behalf of the family. Our plain demand is that the body of Afzal should be handed over to us.” Asked if anybody had approached the family with the offer of airlifting them to Delhi, Yasin said, “No, we heard the news from others like you. But no one has approached us so far.”
Pertinent to mention that Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had said on Monday that the government will consider any request by the family of Afzal Guru to visit his grave inside the Tihar jail.
“If they want to go (to the grave), it can be considered,” Shinde told a press conference in New Delhi.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah had also said that he was ready to talk to centre so that Afzal’s family could reach to Tihar Jail and offer ‘fateha’ on the grave of Afzal.
