PDP MP writes to PM, seeks handover of mortal remains of Parliament attack convict to family

A PDP MP today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and JKLF leader Maqbool Bhat, who were hanged in Delhi's Tihar jail separately, be handed over to their families, so that the "sense of alienation" of Kashmiris could be "brought down by several notches".

Mir Mohammad Fayaz, who is a member of the Rajya Sabha, wrote that granting the request would be "like a balm on old wounds that are unhealed even after so many years".

Significantly, he wrote the letter on a day when Bhat was hanged 35 years back for separatist activities. Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013 for the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.

While seeking handover of the mortal remains to their families, Fayaz said: "I can, with utmost responsibility, say that should the government of India decide to act upon this request, the animosity of Kashmiris and their sense of alienation can be brought down by several notches."

Contending that Kashmir today "stands on the edge", the MP said: "Needless to say that if granted, this wish will be remembered for the rest of our times as a sign of large heartedness of a Prime Minister who came to power with an unprecedented majority and a space is created for reconciliation and peaceful resolution of problems."

To press his argument, he said: "In a country where the killers of an elected Prime Minister were granted clemency and their death sentence was commuted, I do not think it is appalling or disrespectful to seek return of mortal remains of two Kashmiri men to their families.