Welcoming the government’s decision to finally hang Afzal Guru, family members of the Parliament attack martyrs on Saturday said that they would now accept the gallantry medals which they had returned nearly seven years ago. The family members had earlier returned the gallantry medals protesting against the delay in hanging Afzal Guru.
Family members said they would personally meet President Pranab Mukherjee to convey their gratitude to him for rejecting the mercy petition of Afzal which paved the way for his hanging on Saturday morning and ended their 11-year wait for justice.
All-India Anti-Terrorist Front chief M.S. Bitta said, “Though the decision has come late, but now we will not complain anymore. We will not let anyone play politics on the name of our martyrs. The government has taken a right decision and we welcome it. We all are united against terrorism. We had refused to take medals awarded to those who laid down their lives until Afzal’s execution. Now, we will write a letter to the President and take back our medals.”
“We got justice and I cannot explain in words how relieved we are today,” said Prem, widow of J.P. Yadav, who was security assistant in Rajya Sabha when he laid down his life in the gun battle on December 13, 2001 and was conferred Ashok Chakra posthumously in 2002.
On their decision to return the medals, she said, “Death penalty was the right decision but the execution was delayed so we (family members of martyrs) collectively decided to return the medals to the President in 2006. Today we got justice, so we should get back the medals now.”
Kalpa Devi, wife of Matbar Singh Negi said the hanging of Guru would send a strong message to terror organisations that are thinking of creating trouble in India. “This should have been done long ago. It is late but we are happy,” he said.
“I came to know about the hanging when I switched on my TV this morning. I am very happy today and I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Pranab Mukherjee for rejecting Afzal Guru’s mercy plea,” said Jayawati, wife of late Vijendra Singh, the Delhi police head constable who was killed in the attack.