New Delhi: December 13, 2001: Gunshots in the nerve centre of the world’s most populous democracy. The death toll could have been much higher, it may have surpassed a hundred, but for the sacrifice of eight security guards. And now as differences continue over the death sentence of Parliament attack case accused Mohammad Afzal Guru, the eight families of the victims have reached Rashtrapati Bhawan and have returned the medals – Keerti Chakras – the dead were honoured with.
Caught in a fix, the Union Home Ministry has warned that returning of medals would be considered unconstitutional. "Nobody should do anything against the Constitution," Sriprakash Jaiswal, Union Minister of State for Home, said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the families of the victims say they have lost faith in the sanctity of these medals. For Jaywati Devi, who’s husband, head constable Vijender Singh took a bullet in his chest, a fair trial means death for Afzal.
"Our martyrs’ sacrifice will be futile if Afzal doesn’t get the death penalty. We will be returning the medals to the President on Wednesday. The Government is trying to insult us with these medals," says she. The families of all the eight security personnel killed on that fateful day and awarded for bravery posthumously have joined hands. Their medals have been framed together, ready to be given back to the President.
Says the Chairman of the All India Anti-Terrorist Front, M S Bitta, "If the Government has decided to make a joke of their sacrifice, then there is no point in keeping these medals. It has been five years since the sound of gunshots echoed in the corridors of power and justice has still not been delivered.
Participate in HJS campaign to support death penalty of Terrorist Mohammed Afzal Guru(Click here)
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